Comparisons of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in different cultures are important in determining the degree to which particular syndromes are culturebound in their manifestations. In this study the authors looked at both clinical evidence and objective measures of behavior with the Peterson-Quay and Rutter Behavior Rating Scales in Canadian and African primary-school-aged children. They conclude that the hyperactive syndrome, albeit in a somewhat different form, occurs in Africa and hence may be a basic deviation in behavior.