Orientador: Olga Ceciliato Mattioli / Banca: Heloisa Maria Heradão Rogone / Banca: Viviana Carola Velasco Martinez / Resumo: Esta pesquisa partiu de questionamentos sobre a prática da clínica psicanalítica com crianças, especificamente com as que já possuem o diagnóstico médico de Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade, com referência no DSM IV. Analisar crianças com esse diagnóstico estabelecido provoca em nós inquietações quanto à (a) forma de tratamento, geralmente medicamentosa; (b) posição da família diante do discurso médico sobre a criança hiperativa; (c) posição da família em face de seu filho "hiperativo"; e (d) posição do clínico, orientado pela Psicanálise, diante desse cenário. Nossas inquietações, dessa maneira, estão voltadas a questões que nos remetem tanto ao sujeito como aos laços sociais em torno desse sujeito, articuladas ao significante hiperatividade. Por esse percurso, de uma experiência clínica que procura articular prática, teoria e reflexão, identificamos a importância de sistematizar essas inquietações e transformá-las em conhecimentos e, nesse sentido, construir novos conhecimentos, à luz de um saber da Psicanálise. Para tanto, realizamos uma pesquisa bibliográfica, assim como nos pautamos por uma análise de anotações de casos clínicos, sobre alguns pontos que julgamos relevantes da prática clínica com crianças diagnosticadas com TDAH. Optamos, pois, por conduzir nosso trabalho baseando-nos em três eixos norteadores: o da peculiaridade clínica da Psicanálise com crianças; o do atravessamento da família da criança "hiperativa" na clínica, ocupando lugares que provocam a extensão da transferência... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This research started with questions about the psychoanalytic clinical practice with children, specifically those that already have physician-diagnosed disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with reference to DSM IV. Analyze children with this diagnosis established causes us concern as to (a) form of treatment, usually medication, (b) position of the family facing a medical discourse on the hyperactive child, (c) position of the family in the face of his son "hyperactive" and (d) position of clinicians, guided by Psychoanalysis, faced with this scenario. Our concerns in this way are focused on issues that are related both to the subject as the social ties around this subject, linked to significant hyperactivity. By this path, of clinical trial that seeks to articulate practice, theory and reflection, we identified the importance of systematizing these concerns and turn them into knowledge and, accordingly, build new knowledge in the light of Psychoanalysis's body of ideas. Therefore, we performed a literature research, as well as guided by an analysis of clinical case notes on some points we consider relevant to clinical practice with children diagnosed with ADHD. We decided therefore to carry out our work based on three guiding principles: the peculiarity of clinical Psychoanalysis with children; the crossing of the family of the "hyperactive" child occupying places that cause the extent of transference and, at the same time, of resistance; and the crossing of the discourse of medicine in the speech of parents of these children. It is necessary that the practician who works with children with medical diagnosis of ADHA to be opened to both dialogues with other professionals and the contemporary social movements, aware that they are involved directly in the child's treatment. / Mestre

The purpose of this study was to follow the development of children with reading disabilities only, reading disabilites and ADHD, ADHD only, and a comparison group from the ages of 3 to 18. Differences were examined on the following variables: (a) Antecedent variables- Reynell Developmental Language Scales, Temperament, and Family Adversity; (b) School-age variables- behavioral and academic self-concept ratings; and (c) Psychological adjustment variables at age 18- self-reports of delinquency. Children from the reading disabled groups exhibited receptive language deficits, were from families who during the early childhood years had less resources to cope with problem situations, exhibited difficult temperamental characteristics, and had negative academic self-concepts. Distinctions were also noted between a "pervasive" and "situational" presentation of behavioral problems. During late adolescence the reading disabled groups exhibited similar levels of delinquency as their non-disabled peers. The implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

OBJECTIVE: Methylphenidate is commonly used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and narcolepsy. Methylphenidate is administered as

This study examined student teachers' explicit and implicit perceptions of ADHD and the relationship between perceptions of ADHD and social desirability. In addition, the relationship between a current measure of implicit perceptions of ADHD and one that was adapted for this study was also investigated. Findings indicate that student teachers view a student portrayed as exhibiting symptoms consistent with ADHD more negatively than a "normal" child in terms of their self-reported first impressions of the child as well as their predictions for the child's future success. Participants' perceptions, as measured by two implicit measures, however, were mixed, with results from one measure indicative of neutral attitudes toward ADHD, while results from another measure were suggestive of an implicit attitude bias against ADHD behaviors. Overall, social desirability did not appear to be meaningfully associated with student teachers' implicit or explicit perceptions of ADHD. The key findings seem to indicate that student teachers generally exhibit more negative perceptions of stereotypical ADHD behaviors than "normal" behaviors. Two measures of student teachers' implicit perceptions of ADHD were not significantly related.

Theses (MSc.(Med.)(Pharmacy))--University of Limpopo, 2009. / Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the current diagnostic label for children presenting with significant problems with attention, and typically with impulsiveness and excessive activity as well. It is the most common neurobehavioural disorder of childhood, and therefore critical to clarify the diagnosis. ADHD is a seemingly heterogeneous group of behaviour disorders affecting between 5% - 10% of primary school children. Overdiagnosis of ADHD and overprescribing of stimulants are considered problems in some communities, emphasising the need for careful evaluation and diagnosis. Methylphenidate is currently the first choice of treatment. The main focus of this study was to investigate whether the diagnosis of these children was done by field experts according to the criteria as set in the DSM-IV TR. This influences the decision to prescribe methylphenidate and the monitoring of the child during treatment. Method: The parents of 50 clinically diagnosed ADHD children, from various primary schools situated in Polokwane, were interviewed and completed a questionnaire. Results: The findings indicated that 20% of the sample did not meet the DSM-IV TR criteria. 28% of the sample was advised to take methylphenidate by people without appropriate clinical knowledge of ADHD. The final diagnosis and prescribing of methylphenidate is overwhelmingly done by General Practitioners (47%). ADHD symptomatology (hyperactivity - impulsiveness and inattention) was not taken in account when prescribing methylphenidate. There was no definite monitoring of patients before and while on methylphenidate. Positive improvements in ADHD symptoms after methylphenidate therapy, shows that methylphenidate is still prominent and successful in the pharmacotherapy of the ADHD child. Conclusion: Based on the results of the study there does not appear to be enough evidence that proper protocols or guidelines were followed. Some children were diagnosed as having ADHD with insufficient evaluation and in some cases stimulant medication was prescribed when treatment alternatives might exist. It seems that not all clinicians prescribing methylphenidate have the necessary professional experience and/or qualifications regarding ADHD. This is an indication that there is a need for South African guidelines similar to The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Clinical Practice Guidelines and the European Clinical Guidelines for Hyperkinetic Disorder. However, with correct diagnosis and individualised prescribing and usage of methylphenidate, there will be positive improvements in ADHD symptoms after methylphenidate therapy.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder among children and is usually diagnosed during the school years, although symptoms must be present before age 7. As more children enter into preschool programs, there is great opportunity for early identification and treatment of behaviors related to ADHD. The earlier children with symptoms of ADHD are treated, the better their chances of having successful school experiences. Unfortunately, diagnosing ADHD during early childhood is difficult, in part because there is a lack of adequate assessment instruments designed for this age group. The instruments that are available generally do not focus specifically on ADHD symptomology. The ADHD-SRS, a rating scale specifically developed for ADHD assessment, was designed for school-age (K-12) children. The present research study investigated the psychometric properties of the ADHD-SRS with a preschool-aged sample. The participants were 414 preschool children who were rated by their teachers and/or parents using the ADHD-SRS. The results shed some light on normative levels of ADHD behaviors in preschool children. It was found that the ADHD-SRS has good psychometric characteristics (e.g., internal consistency, convergent/divergent validity) for this population. Teacher and parent concordance was moderate (.31), consistent with other research findings. Limitations, clinical implications, and directions for future research are addressed.

Given increased evidence related to the importance of fostering life satisfaction in the overall population (Diener & Diener, 1996), as well as recent suggestions regarding the importance of increasing positive academic and social outcomes for children with ADHD (DuPaul, 2007), it is important to gain a clearer understanding of how life satisfaction may be related to symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Research on the relationship between life satisfaction and symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity is currently limited to two studies (Gudjonsson et al., 2009; Ogg et al., 2014). The current study investigated the relationship between symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity and reports of global life satisfaction in 399 high school students. This study used the bifactor model to conceptualize ADHD given that this model provided the best fit when compared to other models of ADHD in the current study and given that there is substantial evidence in the current literature to support the use of this model (Martel, von Eye, & Nigg, 2010). Structural equation modeling results demonstrated that the general factor of ADHD was a significant predictor of life satisfaction when students rated ADHD symptoms, and the inattention factor of ADHD was a significant predictor of life satisfaction when teachers rated ADHD symptoms. In addition, because depressive symptoms have been associated with life satisfaction and inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, the current study examined if life satisfaction moderated or mediated the relationship between inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity and depressive symptoms. Results of the present study suggested that life satisfaction serves as a potential but weak moderator in the relationship between general ADHD and depression when symptoms of ADHD were rated by teachers. Results also demonstrated that life satisfaction mediated the relationship between general ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms when ADHD symptoms were rated by students, and life satisfaction mediated the relationship between inattentive symptoms and depressive symptoms when ADHD symptoms were rated by teachers. The current study contributes to existing literature on life satisfaction given that there are currently only two studies, one which was conducted with an adult population and one of which was conducted with a middle school population, specifically examining levels of life satisfaction in individuals with symptoms of ADHD. The results of this study provide additional confirmation of the negative relationship between ADHD symptoms and life satisfaction. Moreover, this study was the first to examine how life satisfaction may play a role in the relationship between symptoms of ADHD and depressive symptoms. This study supports that life satisfaction primarily plays a mediating role in the relationship between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms and provides support for further examination of this role in future studies.

This qualitative study investigated the educational and social experiences of six children who had been identified as Gifted with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The children were aged from six to ten years old. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the children and their parents and a staff member of the George Parkyn Centre (now The Gifted Education Centre) to explore their educational and social experiences in order to identify their preferred strategies that were also expected to be the most effective educational strategies. It is important to identify effective educational strategies for Gifted children with ADHD. This is because there are children in New Zealand (as this study has found) who have been identified as Gifted with ADHD but according to the literature review conducted for this study there does not appear to be a significant amount of literature from New Zealand or international writers that informs educators about how to assist these children to learn. Instead, the literature appeared to focus on misdiagnosis of Giftedness as ADHD, however, these children may benefit from having assistance with their learning as some literature suggested they are not being identified and could be underachievers. It seems that the use of effective educational strategies may be the only way these children could reach their academic potential. Therefore, this study sought to move on from the misdiagnosis debate evident in the Gifted/ADHD literature to identify some effective educational strategies. This study also investigated the social experiences of Gifted children with ADHD. This is because the literature maintained Gifted children with ADHD could have difficulties with social interactions. Talking to the children about their social interactions could indicate whether the literature's implications are correct and if they are it should allow further understanding regarding how we could assist the Gifted child with ADHD to have more positive social interactions that could also positively impact on learning as social interactions occur within the classroom. The key findings of this study indicated that some Gifted children with had specific learning preferences that could stimulate them to learn (e.g., when their interests were recognised, information was presented visually, tasks had a meaningful purpose and movement and use of computers was allowed). Ineffective educational strategies were also addressed although not in detail as for the most part they seemed to be the opposite of effective educational strategies. The findings also indicated Gifted children with ADHD could benefit when they find their 'true peer' as this seemed to result in the children within this study wanting to work with others. Although specific suggestions were recommended (e.g., the use Renzulli's 1977 Enrichment Triad Model) the findings emphasised the depth of information that could be gained by simply talking to children and their parents about their learning. A wider implication may be this Gifted group of children may benefit from the use of specific educational strategies that personalise their learning.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is comorbid with a range of other disorders in clinical and community samples, including anxiety disorders. The outcomes of the Multimodal Treatment Studies of ADHD (MTA Cooperative Group, 1999) highlight the importance of this comorbidity, as children with anxiety responded differently to treatments than did children with ADHD only. At present there are few tested theoretical explanations of the etiological processes and developmental trajectories associated with their co-occurrence. The aim of this research was to put forward and examine different explanations for the comorbidity of these two disorders in children according to the framework provided by Lilienfeld (2003). This was achieved by examining the covariation of ADHD symptoms and anxiety symptoms in a community sample of 499 children aged 8-13. Dimensional assessments of psychopathology were conducted via self-report questionnaires given to children, parents and teachers. The results were analysed via structural equation modelling approaches using AMOS (Arbuckle, 2003). Consistent with the hypotheses, positive associations at Time 1 between ADHD and anxiety symptoms were linked with inattention symptoms and were particularly pronounced for girls. The concurrent positive associations observed at each time period could not be completely accounted for by overlapping symptoms across measures or by method covariance explanations. The link between ADHD and anxiety symptoms could be explained by a common factor in reporting whereby ADHD and anxiety symptoms were both associated with noncompliance and negative affect for parents' reports, and negative affect for children???s' reports. Despite the concurrent associations, there was no support for the hypothesis that ADHD symptoms predicted the development of anxiety symptoms over time, nor the alternative hypothesis that anxiety symptoms predicted the development of ADHD symptoms over time, when the stability of symptoms across time was taken into account. It was concluded that ADHD symptoms (particularly inattention) and anxiety symptoms are covarying phenomena that are linked with common features of an irritable temperament and disruptive behaviour. Future research should investigate the role of these common factors in treatment outcome and cognitive research, which has previously found differences between ADHD children with and without anxiety.

<p>This thesis examined inhibition, executive functioning and their possible relation to childhood problems of hyperactivity and inattention, in its clinical form referred to as Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD). Concurrent as well as longitudinal relations were of interest, and both clinical and non-clinical samples were studied. </p><p>Study I demonstrated concurrent relations between executive inhibition and both hyperactivity and conduct problems in preschool. However, the relation between inhibition and conduct problems could be attributed to the large overlap between hyperactivity and conduct problems.</p><p>In Study II, linear relations were found between executive inhibition and hyperactivity, whereas inhibition to the unfamiliar was related to hyperactivity, social initiative, as well as social anxiety. Non-linear analyses showed that children with high levels of both types of inhibition were at risk for developing low social initiative and social anxiety, whereas children with low levels of inhibition were at risk for developing hyperactivity, but at the same time protected from social anxiety. </p><p>In Study III, executive inhibition was longitudinally related to ADHD symptoms in both school and at home for boys, but only in the school context for girls. Executive inhibition was also related to more general executive functioning deficits, and concurrent relations were found between executive functioning and ADHD symptoms, although in both cases only for boys. Inhibition and executive functioning made independent contributions to the understanding of ADHD symptoms for boys, and together explained about half the variance in inattention problems. </p><p>In Study IV, group differences were found between ADHD children and controls for both inhibition and various other executive function measures. These measures also discriminated well between groups. The best model, which included measures tapping inhibition, working memory and emotion regulation, classified 86% of the children correctly. </p><p>In summary, the results of the present thesis were mostly supportive of Barkley’s hybrid model of ADHD, although it should be noted that the question of whether inhibition should be regarded as primary to other executive functions requires further investigation.</p>