Attention deficit disorder and hospitalization owing to intra- and interpersonal violence among children and young adolescents

Purpose: To investigate the associations between intra-and interpersonal violence and related injuries and the diagnosis If attention deficit disorder (ADD) among children and young adolescents. Methods: This was a population-based epidemiological study that analyzed data routinely collected on hospitalized patients owing to injuries. Data were obtained from the routinely collected inpatient statistics. Information included patients' demographics. diagnostic classifications of admitting problem, classification of external causes of injury, length of stay, and outcome of hospitalization. Patients with comorbidity of ADD were identified by the ICD-9CM diagnosis code. Data were analyzed univirately using Pearson Chi-square tests. Logistic regression analyses were, also applied to calculate the adjusted odds ratio and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: Significant associations between suicide and self-harm, injuries owing to assault. and diagnosis of ADD were found. Patients diagnosed with ADD stayed in the hospital longer than others, disregarding the cause of their injury. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with ADD are at risk of being victims of assaults. as well as suicide and self harm. Assessment for ADD can be considered as part of school-age childhood screening programs. (C) 2005 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.