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    Affiliation：Monash University,Victoria 3806,Australia(Bruce Tonge,Leon Piterman,Hui Yang);University of Melbourne,Victoria 3010,Australia(Fiona Judd,Grant Blashki)

    Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;Childhood;Mental health;General practice

    Compared to adults,children,particularly boys,are often relatively inattentive,impulsive and busy(hyperactive).If these behaviours are much more excessive and pervasive than expected in a child of the same developmental age,and cause impairment in the child′s social life and learning,then the child has the neurodevelopmental condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)[1].Prevalence estimates vary because of differing diagnostic criteria and cultural and social factors from about 1.5% of 6-12 year olds in Europe,to 5% in the USA[1].In China,estimates vary widely from 1%-14%[2]and about 6% in Hong Kong[3].There are only several hundred specialist clinicians available in mainland China with expertise in ADHD therefore the condition is greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated,usually with herbal remedies.Under diagnosis might also be influenced by the stigma associated with mental illness in children[2].ADHD is twice as common in boys. ......