A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of DSM-5 specific learning disorders in representative school samples from the second to sixth grade in Brazil.
Little is known about specific learning disorder (SLD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and even less from representative school samples in small size cities outside huge urban centers. Few studies addressed the new DSM-5 criteria for SLDs. We investigated the prevalence of DSM-5 SLDs, their comorbidities and correlates in school samples of students from the second to sixth grades living in median cities from four different geographic regions in Brazil. A national test for academic performance covering reading, writing and mathematical abilities was applied. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed by the K-SADS-PL applied to the primary caregiver. A total of 1618 children and adolescents were included in the study. The following prevalence rates of SLDs were found: 7.6% for global impairment, 5.4% for writing, 6.0% for arithmetic, and 7.5% for reading impairment. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the only comorbidity significantly associated with SLD with global impairment (p = 0.031). Anxiety disorders and ADHD were associated with SLD with arithmetic impairment. Significant differences were detected in prevalence rates among cities, and several socio-demographic correlates (age, gender, IQ, and socioeconomic status) were significantly associated with SLD with global impairment in our sample. Careful validation and normatization of instruments to assess academic performance is a major problem in LMICs. As expected, we found a significant heterogeneity in prevalence rates of SLD according to geographic regions considering that Brazil is a country with a robust diversity. SLD with global and arithmetic impairment was significantly associated with psychiatric comorbidities.
['Fortes|Isabela S|IS|', 'Paula|Cristiane S|CS|', 'Oliveira|Melaine C|MC|', 'Bordin|Isabel A|IA|', 'de Jesus Mari|Jair|J|', 'Rohde|Luis A|LA|']
D000124:Achievement D000293:Adolescent D001008:Anxiety Disorders D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity D001938:Brazil D002648:Child D015897:Comorbidity D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders D004410:Dyslexia D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D001523:Mental Disorders D015995:Prevalence D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales D012574:Schools D012923:Social Class D000067559:Specific Learning Disorder
DSM-5 Specific learning disorder Comorbidity Academic performance Children and adolescents Mental health disorders