Reviewed 39 empirical studies in which direct observational methods were used to assess children in whom attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had been diagnosed. Found that classroom studies distinguished ADHD children from comparison groups better than laboratory studies. Behaviors that most consistently distinguished ADHD children…

Psychometric properties of a laboratory paradigm for measuring stealing, property destruction, and cheating were explored, and the viability of the construct of covert antisocial behavior was studied in 98 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and 78 comparisons. Psychometric and ethical issues in assessment of covert behavior are…

Six boys, aged 9 to 12, attended a tutoring class focusing on reading for 30 minutes each morning. Six, 10-day treatment periods were imposed that used various combinations of drug placebo, noncontingent reinforcers, 0.3 mg/kg methylphenidate, 0.7 mg/kg methylphenidate, and self-reinforcement. The combined effects of methylphenidate and…

Examines role of school psychologist in managing services for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to legal mandates and recent trends in ADHD research and the practice of school psychology. Considers limitations of school-based model; emphasizes need for close collaboration between school- and clinic-based…

This article summarizes the literature on attention deficit disorders (both with and without hyperactivity), diagnostic criteria, the disorder's prevalence, developmental course, and proposed etiologies. A conceptual framework for designing a comprehensive assessment battery is presented with specific attention to the relationship between…

This paper postulates that cultural and societal factors have exerted a powerful force on the conceptualization and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A functional assessment approach is presented, along with a model for classifying performance deficits and methods for selecting intervention strategies based on the model.…

Examined diagnostic efficiency of symptoms for experimentally diagnosed oppositional defiant disorder (OD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 102 elementary-age boys. Findings from teacher ratings revealed that, on average, ADHD symptoms were as useful as OD symptoms as exclusion criteria for OD, whereas OD symptoms were nearly…

Grandparents' and mothers' drug use predicted hyperactivity, psychosomatic complaints, and social problems for boys, and acting-out behaviors for boys and girls. Maternal drug use predicted fearfulness, hyperactivity, and social problems for boys, and developmental problems for boys and girls. (BC)

The literature review finds valid the distinction within the diagnostic category of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) of either the presence or absence of hyperactivity. ADD children without hyperactivity exhibit less serious conduct problems, are less impulsive, less rejected by peers, but more socially withdrawn, and more likely to exhibit…

Discusses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the particular characteristics of children with ADHD, treatment of ADHD, and strategies to improve the academic performance of such children. Recommends careful application of existing strategies from the field of reading. (SR)

Twenty-six children (ages 5-12) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were tested before and after treatment with methylphenidate. Few performance tests predicted clinical response to medication. Chronological age and performance on a memory distraction task and the Graduated Holes Task were moderately correlated with clinical outcome.…

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was completed by parents of 93 prepubertal children evaluated for sexual abuse and 80 nonabused children. Sexually abused children had significantly more behavior problems, including depression, aggression, sleep and somatic complaints, hyperactivity, and sexual problems. At four-month follow-up, children with…

A study of a 12-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder investigated the effectiveness of a token economy incentive program implemented in the home setting to increase attention to task while doing homework assignments. Results found the boy's percentage of time spent on-task increased markedly. (Author/CR)

A study of 62 children (ages 7 to 12) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 62 controls found that behavioral variables established robust, statistically significant differences between groups. Children with ADHD also scored worse on 31 out of 61 neuropsychological variables, but obtained better scores on WISC-R Comprehension…

A study investigated how 15 children (ages 6 to 10) who identified themselves as having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would differ from 74 adult-identified boys (ages 6 to 10). Although no significant differences were found in observed disruptive behavior, the child self-identified group endorsed significantly more internalizing…