ADHD in Swedish 3- to 7-year-old children.

• Objective: To study characteristics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a representative group of clinically impaired young children in Sweden with the disorder. Method: One hundred thirty-one children with ADHD (aged 3–7 years) were examined, and their parents were interviewed. Independent parent questionnaire data (Child Behavior Checklist, ADHD Rating Scale-IV, Conners) were collected. For comparison 131 children without ADHD were matched for age, gender, parents’ marital status, child’s adoption status, and social class. Results: Children with ADHD had extremely high ADHD symptom levels—on average four to eight times higher than the comparison group. Sociodemographic correlates of ADHD symptoms were more pronounced in parent questionnaire data than in parent interview data, underscoring the importance of diagnostic interview when dealing with clinical issues. Very few of the children with ADHD (6%) appeared “normal” with regard to attention/activity level at clinical examination.Conclusions: Clinic children with a diagnosis of DSMIV ADHD have typical and impairing symptoms already before starting school. The variance of ADHD in this age group appears to be accounted for by primary psychosocial factors only to a limited degree. It would seem reasonable to establish supportive and treatment measures for these young children so that the psychosocial and academic problems shown by so many individuals with ADHD later in their development might be reduced.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

Psychology

Child

Child Development

Child

Preschool

Cross-Sectional Studies

Female

Humans

Male

Parent-Child Relations

Schools

Severity of Illness Index

Social Behavior

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)