Do attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms exist among Brazilian indigenous children?

Abstract

The validity of the clinical constructs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been generalized for all human populations of different cultures worldwide. Yet important population groups have yet to be adequately studied so as to definitively confirm this generalization.ObjectiveTo investigate the presence of symptoms of ADHD in children living within an indigenous community.MethodsWe performed interviews in a bid to screen for symptoms of ADHD among settlement-dwelling indigenous children of the Karajá ethnic group in the Brazilian Amazonian Region.ResultsThree narratives are presented highlighting the classical symptomatological triad of ADHD: inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.ConclusionsSome of ADHD’s major characteristics, described in the most common disease classification worldwide, are clearly described by children of this population. We concluded that ADHD symptoms are present in this population which diverges greatly in cultural issues compared to the Western world.

Adult ADHD Among NSW Prisoners

“…Research on ADHD among indigenous people worldwide is scarce, and to our knowledge, there are no previous Australian studies. The findings reported by Azevedo and Caixeta (2009) from in-depth clinical interviews with Brazilian indigenous children provide some support for the existence of core ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness) as well as associated difficulties with family and school environments. Similarly, a Canadian study found a high prevalence of ADHD in Aboriginal children, but the authors suggest that unique learning styles among Aboriginal children may incorrectly lead to an ADHD diagnosis (Baydala, Sherman, Rasmussen, Wikman, & Janzen, 2006).…”

“…Similarly, a Canadian study found a high prevalence of ADHD in Aboriginal children, but the authors suggest that unique learning styles among Aboriginal children may incorrectly lead to an ADHD diagnosis (Baydala, Sherman, Rasmussen, Wikman, & Janzen, 2006). Given the lack of research, the validity of the ADHD diagnosis among indigenous Australians is questionable, and more work in this area is clearly needed (Azevedo & Caixeta, 2009).…”

“…Similarly, a Canadian study found a high prevalence of ADHD in Aboriginal children, but the authors suggest that unique learning styles among Aboriginal children may incorrectly lead to an ADHD diagnosis (Baydala, Sherman, Rasmussen, Wikman, & Janzen, 2006). Given the lack of research, the validity of the ADHD diagnosis among indigenous Australians is questionable, and more work in this area is clearly needed (Azevedo & Caixeta, 2009). Inattention symptoms of ADHD were more prevalent than symptoms on the hyperactivity/impulsivity dimension, which is consistent with prior research with offender and SUD samples (Kaye, Darke, & Torok, 2013;Konstenius et al, 2015) as well as with findings from a longitudinal study which found symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity declined at a higher rate than symptoms of inattention (Biederman, Mick, & Faraone, 2000).…”