Childhood psychiatric disorders: Asperger syndrome, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, Conduct disorder, Attachment therapy, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder controversies, Mental retardation, Learning disability

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 86. Chapters: Asperger syndrome, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, Conduct disorder, Attachment therapy, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder controversies, Mental retardation, Learning disability, Diagnosis of Asperger syndrome, Neurodevelopmental disorder, Stephen Faraone, Bipolar disorder in children, Selective mutism, List of stutterers, PANDAS, Pica, Sluggish cognitive tempo, Child pyromaniac, Encopresis, Adjustment disorder, Sydenham's chorea, Pervasive developmental disorder, Deficits in Attention, Motor control and Perception, Language delay, Regressive autism, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Parent Management Training, Oppositional defiant disorder, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Hebrew Academy for Special Children, School refusal, Stereotypic movement disorder, Specific developmental disorder, Adopted child syndrome, Abandoned child syndrome, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale, Expressive language disorder, Disorder of written expression, Child psychopathology. Excerpt: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD) is a developmental disorder. It is primarily characterized by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone" and symptoms starting before seven years of age. ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5 percent of children globally and diagnosed in about 2 to 16 percent of school aged children. It is a chronic disorder with 30 to 50 percent of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood. Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments. It is estimated that 4.7 percent of American adults live with ADHD. Standardized rating scales such as WHO's Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale can be used for ADHD screening and assessment of the disorder¿s symptoms severity. ADHD is diagnosed two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls, though studies suggest this discrepancy may be partially due to subjective bias of referring teachers. ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed. Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients. ADHD and its diagnosis and treatment have been considered controversial since the 1970s. The controversies have involved clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents and the media. Topics include the actuality of the disorder, its causes, and the use of stimulant medications in its treatment. Most healthcare providers accept that ADHD is a genuine disorder with debate in the scientific community centering mainly around how it is diagnosed and treated. The Ameri