Abstract
A 30-month follow-up study of 26 clinically selected hyperactive children.was carried out to investigate sample composition and predictors of outcome. Outcome was measured in terms of continued need for stimulant medication at 30 months. Significant differences were found in the hyperactive group in terms of age, psychometric assessment, and family structure. A large number of hyperkinetic children came from single-parent families, but a significant proportion of these did not require medication. In the follow-up study, IQ was found to be the most important predictor of continued need for medication at 30 months. This indication of severity in the group still requiring medication at 30 months was confirmed by maternal, teacher and clinician ratings, and objective tests of sustained attention (vigilance) and inhibition. A large number of young hyperactives (aged 48-71 months) showed significant discrepancies, in both directions, between the verbal and performance components of the Wechsler IQ.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 243-246 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1982 |
| Externally published | Yes |