Epidemiological Study of Behavioural Disorders in The Primary School Students of Ghorveh and Evaluation of The Validity and Reliability of Rutter Teacher Scale in Assessment of Behavioural Disorders in 2001

To reach psychical health, study of children behavioral disorders is essential. The goals of this research were the study of validity and reliability of Rutter teacher scale and epidemiological study of behavioral disorders of Ghorveh primary school children. This study was analytical-descriptive and the method of sampling was multistage stratified cluster random sampling. One stage of research was devoted to determining the validity and reliability of Rutter teacher scale. At this stage with a determined cut off point of 16, test did not have desirable sensitivity and specificity and also there was a weak correlation between the results of Rutter teacher scale and results of clinical interview. Prevalence of behavioural disorders of primary school children in Ghorveh was 20.4%. Oppositional behavioural disorder and hyperactivity, with prevalence of 10.2% and 8.4% were the most prevalent disorders respectively. Behavioural disorder and epilepsy with 0.6% were the least prevalent disorders. With respect to the results of Rutter teacher test, this from is not reliable enough to be used for the study of behavioural problems of primary school children in this or other similar regions. In other words the opinion of teachers can not be reliable for assessment of behavioural problems of children. Prevalence of behavioural disorders of primary school children in this region is relatively similar to other parts of the country. This rate is closer to countries with the same social, economical and cultural status (like Porterico and China) than other countries (like USA and Canada).