Abstract

CHICA URZOLA, Heydy Luz  and  VASQUEZ, Rafael. ¿Why don´t inprove children with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder?. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2005, vol.53, n.3, pp.178-185. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. During the year 2004, 1454 evaluations, corresponding to 592 patients, were made in outward and inter consultation. Out of these evaluations, 536 were because of ADD, corresponding to 240 patients. We asked the patients and their families whether, the children's condition that brought them to consultation had improved, was worse or the same. According to the registration system, 76% were the same or worse, 23% were better and 1% did not answer. We made a study in order to determine what had happened to the patients whose statistic registration showed no improvement. Objective. Characterizing the patients who came to consultation at the Children's Psychiatric consultation in the Hospital de la Misericordia during 2004 and who were diagnosed as ADD not reporting clinical improvement. Material and methods. Patients who came to consultation at the Pediatric Psychiatric service of the Hospital de la Misericordia during the year 2004, who were diagnosed as ADD and did not report clinical improvement. Results. In 237 patients suspicious of having ADD was confirmed in 157 patients (66%). Treatment was begun in 114 (48%). In the follow up studies, it was found that 94 improved, 20 abandoned the treatment; of these, three let give us their motivation. Conclusions. We found mistakes in the patients' registration, specifically in the improvement indicator, and that frequently it was not possible to confirm diagnosis, nor initiate treatments, because the patients did not come back after the first consultation or abandoned the treatment. As reported by international literature, there was 82.45% clinical improvement. Multiple reasons were found to explain abandonment of the treatment.

Keywords : attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; child psychiatry; follow-up studies; prescriptions, drug.

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