Abstract

VASQUEZ, Rafael et al. What is Hyperactivity and How do Parents View The Problem? Analysis of Chief Complaints and Coping Strategies of Adhd in a Sample of High Socioeconomic Status in Bogotá. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2011, vol.40, n.3, pp.488-503. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The most frequent clinical diagnosis in psychiatric child services in different societies is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Classically, the core symptoms and the main objective of different therapeutic strategies are the triad hyperactivity, attention deficit, and impulsivity. However, the chief complaints that patients and families state are diverse due to the relevant impact of the symptoms on school and social dynamics. Objective: To learn how the chief complaints are expressed in the context of Bogotá (Colombia). Methods: 366 surveys of parents of children with ADHD were analyzed. They participated in the monthly meeting of the “HIDEA Parent´s School”, which specializes in ADHD. Surveys summarized the complaints and confrontation strategies used to improve these inconveniences. Results: The most frequent complaints were disobedience, defying authority, and low school performance. To help the children the parents turned mainly to occupational therapy as suggested by the school. Conclusions: We observed that parents perceived the problem as linked to social annoyance consequences instead of clinical symptoms of ADHD. Paradoxically a relative weakness of confrontation approaches was also evident, involving deep changes in child rearing patterns and social interactions.

Keywords : ADHD; chief complaint; oppositional; child rearing patterns; low school performance.

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