Screening of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its associated factors among medical university students in Lebanon: A multicenter cross-sectional study
11 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- 2Faculty of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- 3AZM Center for Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
- 4Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
- 5Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- 6Neurology Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- 7Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- 8Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
- 9Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- 10Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), Weill Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- 11College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Abstract
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that may adversely affect academic performance and well-being. Data on ADHD among Lebanese medical students are limited. This study assessed the prevalence of probable ADHD symptoms and associated factors among medical students in Lebanon. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from six Lebanese universities. Participants completed an online questionnaire including the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Factors associated with ADHD screening scores were identified using multivariable linear regression. A total of 306 medical students participated; 60.8% were female, and the mean age was 21.9 ± 2.1 years. Overall, 93 students screened positive for probable ADHD symptoms, corresponding to a prevalence of 30.4% (95% CI: 25.5%–35.8%). Higher ADHD screening scores were independently associated with fourth academic year (β = 0.605, 95% CI: 0.111–1.099; p = 0.017), middle socioeconomic status (β = 0.399, 95% CI: 0.022–0.777; p = 0.038), comorbidities (β = 0.624, 95% CI: 0.082–1.167; p = 0.024), birth complications (β = 0.888, 95% CI: 0.311–1.466; p = 0.003), smoking (β = 1.054, 95% CI: 0.415–1.692; p = 0.001), higher PHQ-9 scores (β = 0.089, 95% CI: 0.042–0.136; p < 0.001), and poorer sleep quality (PSQI score; β = 0.093, 95% CI: 0.029–0.157; p = 0.005). Nearly one-third of Lebanese medical students screened positive for probable ADHD symptoms. These findings suggest that ADHD symptoms may coexist with modifiable psychological and lifestyle factors, highlighting the need for integrated screening and support services within medical schools. Future longitudinal studies using clinical diagnostic assessments are warranted to clarify causal relationships and confirm ADHD diagnoses.
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BibTeX
@article{jassem2026screening,
title = {{Screening of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its associated factors among medical university students in Lebanon: A multicenter cross-sectional study}},
author = {Omar Al Jassem and Mariam Darwish and Rami Rifi and Chirine Chawiche and Hassan Khalil and Sara Ayoub and Mabelle Al Bassar and Ayman El Moubayed and Layal Malli and Madeeha Kamal and Linda Abou-Abbas},
journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0006528},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006528},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Screening of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its associated factors among medical university students in Lebanon: A multicenter cross-sectional study
AU - Omar Al Jassem
AU - Mariam Darwish
AU - Rami Rifi
AU - Chirine Chawiche
AU - Hassan Khalil
AU - Sara Ayoub
AU - Mabelle Al Bassar
AU - Ayman El Moubayed
AU - Layal Malli
AU - Madeeha Kamal
AU - Linda Abou-Abbas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
JO - PLOS Global Public Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006528
UR - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006528
AB - Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that may adversely affect academic performance and well-being. Data on ADHD among Lebanese medical students are limited. This study assessed the prevalence of probable ADHD symptoms and associated factors among medical students in Lebanon. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from six Lebanese universities. Participants completed an online questionnaire including the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Factors associated with ADHD screening scores were identified using multivariable linear regression. A total of 306 medical students participated; 60.8% were female, and the mean age was 21.9 ± 2.1 years. Overall, 93 students screened positive for probable ADHD symptoms, corresponding to a prevalence of 30.4% (95% CI: 25.5%–35.8%). Higher ADHD screening scores were independently associated with fourth academic year (β = 0.605, 95% CI: 0.111–1.099; p = 0.017), middle socioeconomic status (β = 0.399, 95% CI: 0.022–0.777; p = 0.038), comorbidities (β = 0.624, 95% CI: 0.082–1.167; p = 0.024), birth complications (β = 0.888, 95% CI: 0.311–1.466; p = 0.003), smoking (β = 1.054, 95% CI: 0.415–1.692; p = 0.001), higher PHQ-9 scores (β = 0.089, 95% CI: 0.042–0.136; p < 0.001), and poorer sleep quality (PSQI score; β = 0.093, 95% CI: 0.029–0.157; p = 0.005). Nearly one-third of Lebanese medical students screened positive for probable ADHD symptoms. These findings suggest that ADHD symptoms may coexist with modifiable psychological and lifestyle factors, highlighting the need for integrated screening and support services within medical schools. Future longitudinal studies using clinical diagnostic assessments are warranted to clarify causal relationships and confirm ADHD diagnoses.
SN - 2767-3375
ER -