A study evaluated the utility of classroom-based functional and adjunctive assessments of problem behaviors for two adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder. Classroom interventions derived from information obtained during assessments resulted in reductions in problem behaviors. Teacher…

Examines the impact of ADHD on families' functioning. Reviews recent research indicating that persistence of symptoms into adulthood and high comorbidity with behavior, psychiatric, and mood disorders are major additional stressors for families. Emphasizes that effective management of disorder requires multilevel and multimodal interventions, and…

The factorial and normative data of a teacher rating scale containing the 18 symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were examined using a sample of 4,009 children and adolescents. Two factors (inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) were derived. Normative data are presented for a nationally representative sample, and…

The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder worldview tacitly promotes a teacher-centered, worksheet- and textbook-driven education model. According to current research, all students benefit from project-based environments allowing them to construct new meanings based on their existing knowledge. This article discusses holistic interventions that…

The rush to label schoolchildren as suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has reached nearly epidemic proportions. The diagnosis often meets parents' needs to assign behavior control to Ritalin; it should be an explanation leading to genuine help, not a license for unacceptable student…

Two case studies examined the utility of curriculum-based measurement of math and reading for evaluating the effects of methylphenidate on the academic performance of two students diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results suggest that the curriculum-based measures were sensitive indicators of the students' responses to the…

A review of 41 studies on pharmacological treatments for children with autism and pervasive personality disorder not otherwise specified, found empirical evidence for significant reductions in hyperactive symptoms was strongest for the antipsychotics, psychostimulants, and naltrexone. A theoretical model is proposed for using attentional…

This commentary discusses the use of pharmacological treatments to reduce over activity and hyperactivity in children with autism. While it concedes that some medications, particularly antipsychotics, can effectively reduce over activity, it cautions that the effects of psychotropic medications on inattention remain poorly defined and stresses the…

Discusses the medical diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Describes the nature and origins of the condition and discusses approaches to its management, focusing on the controversy surrounding the social and educational value of the diagnosis. Examines the potential contribution of the ADHD diagnosis in promoting social…

This primer on the medical aspects of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) youth will help counselors feel better informed about the types of medications available, possible side effects, and the advantages and disadvantages for use. It also offers a discussion of the consequences for using interventions requiring medication…

Researchers agree early intervention is crucial to prevent academic underachievement and negative effects on the lives of children, adolescents, and adults affected by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If counselors, particularly high school counselors, address the needs of students with ADHD, these students may attain their…

The Test of Variable Attention (TOVA), widely used in the assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, was studied along with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III (WISC-III). Explores whether the TOVA is a measure of psychomotor speed function rather than sustained attention. Results indicated that there was no correlation…

This article is an abridged version of a British Psychological Society paper that addresses research relevant to current understanding of the notion of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from an historical, psychological, and biological perspective. Also discusses implications for practice in the light of the information obtained. (Author/CR)

A paradox exists in community prevention of violence and drugs. Good research now exists on evidence-based programs, yet extensive expenditures on prevention have not produced community-level results. Various multiproblems are quite prevalent in the United States, such as violence, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conduct problems,…

Sixty-three children between ages 6 and 12 who were enrolled in a summer treatment program for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in a study designed to measure the relationship between social behaviors, athletic performance, and peer acceptance. Children were assessed on sport-specific skills of three major…