The study examined the 2-year stability and validity of playroom observations of behaviors associated with hyperactivity in 48 boys who were evaluated originally as outpatients in a child psychiatry clinic, and seen again approximately 2 years later at follow-up. At both evaluations, the boys participated in two 15-minute playroom procedures: a…

The paper addresses the assessment and management of hyperkinesis in children. Recent research is reported to show that hyperkinetic children differ in psychological functioning, which might account for varying reactions to stimulant medication. An evaluation procedure which identifies the subgroups of hyperkinetic children using behavioral and…

Hyperactive children appear to be at an increased risk for antisocial behavior in life. Follow-up studies using self-report and official criminal data have found that hyperactive children are more likely than controls to commit crimes, to be arrested for crimes, to be convicted of crimes, and to be diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder in…

The relationship between interpersonal cognitive problem-solving (ICPS) skills and the behavioral adjustment of 30 hyperactive boys (from 5.5 to 12.5 years of age) was examined. Each S was individually administered two problem solving measures to assess alternative thinking and means-end thinking. The childrens' self-concept was also assessed and…

The relationship between hyperactivity and neuropsychological test performance at different age levels was investigated with 90 children 6-8 years old and 92 children 9-12 years old. Subjects were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests, and a parent completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBC). Young children demonstrated no…

Present research questions the traditional unidimensional model in childhood psychopathology. Not only do parents influence the development of their offspring, they, in turn, are influenced by them. The infant is an active agent, affected by and affecting those around him. The infant emerges as a primary source of influence--often in the direction…

A study involving 18 hyperkinetic children (from 3- to 12-years old) was conducted to test the hypothesis that hyperactive children manifest the same type of hypermotility in their eyes as in the rest of their body. Ss were observed under a series of test conditions (including manual problem solving) which elicit short and long periods of…

Hyperactivity in children is explained in relation to behavioral characteristics, precipitating factors, and stimulant medication therapy. The basic mechanism of hyperactivity is seen to be impulsive style in motility, attention, and socialization. Problems caused by impulsivity are noted to include feeding problems, school difficulties, and peer…

This paper covers selected findings from three studies that compared different diagnostic groups: boys with attention deficit disorder (ADD) with or without hyperactivity (HY) but normal reading ability; boys with reading disability (RD) but not HY; and boys with both RD and HY. Studies examined an adapted task to assess frontal and temporal lobe…

Psychopathology in outpatient children was explored using two classification systems. Clinically derived Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition, Revised) (DSM-III R) diagnoses in three high frequency diagnostic groups were compared to empirically derived Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores for an overall sample of…

An interactional model explaining predisposition to hyperactivity asserts that being identified, diagnosed, and treated as hyperactive is a function of biological factors, early health and temperament, family characteristics, and the quality of the home environment. A longitudinal study involving 367 subjects, aged 17-18, tested the interactional…