Assessing children with ADHD in primary care settings

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly occurring behavioral disorder among children. Community-based physicians are often the primary providers of services for children with ADHD. A set of consensus guidelines has been established that provides best practice diagnostic procedures for primary care physicians. These assessment recommendations emphasize the importance of collecting parent and teacher rating scales, using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria as the basis for making an ADHD diagnosis, and evaluating for comorbid conditions. The ADHD diagnostic process is complicated by several factors including the subjectivity of the ADHD diagnosis, differential diagnosis with comorbid conditions, and the inconsistent manifestation of ADHD symptomatology across development. The present article provides recommendations for addressing these complex diagnostic issues. ADHD assessment methods and tools, the process of assessing for comorbid conditions and making differential diagnosis, and when to make a referral to specialists are reviewed.

Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder in school-aged children in Saudi Arabia

“…The result showed that the prevalence of ADHD is 2.68%. The prevalence is in accordance with that reported by several studies worldwide [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Also, the current results are consistent with other studies, indicating that boys are more likely to exhibit ADHD behaviour than girls [7].…”

The Association of Bullying and Health Complaints in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…21,36 In this article we have demonstrated that ADHD is associated with bullying and health complaints. These associated symptoms in ADHD may well be used in the diagnostic work-up of ADHD, in the evaluation of school interventions, or the follow-up of medical treatment in addition to an assessment of reduction of core symptoms and school achievement.…”

School accountability laws and the consumption of psychostimulants

“…Sax and Kautz (2003) report that in 52.4% of the cases, ADHD diagnosis was first suggested by a child's teacher or other school personnel. In addition, DSM-IV criteria used by physicians making ADHD diagnosis relies on both parent and teacher ratings (Langberg et al, 2008). Not surprisingly, Chan et al (2005) find that 83% of surveyed primary care physicians used teacher or school reports and ratings while evaluating a child for ADHD.…”