NCJ Number
57508
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS RESULTS OF CLINICAL, FAMILY, AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN WHICH SUGGEST A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD HYPERACTIVITY AND ADULT PSYCHOPATHY.
Abstract
THE HYPERACTIVE CHILD SYNDROME IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXCESSIVE MOTOR ACTIVITY, SHORT ATTENTION SPAN, EASY DISTRACTABILITY, AND ASSOCIATED LEARNING PROBLEMS. THE DISORDER IS SEVERAL TIMES MORE PREVALENT IN BOYS THAN IN GIRLS. THE HIGH OCCURRENCE OF SYMPTOMS PREDICTIVE OF ADULT PSYCHOPATHY IN YOUNG HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN SUGGESTS THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE AT RISK FOR LATER DELINQUENCY. A 30-YEAR FOLLOWUP STUDY OF CHILDREN SCREENED IN A GUIDANCE CLINIC FOUND THAT ONE-THIRD OF THOSE WHO SHOWED SUCH SYMPTOMS AS PATHOLOGICAL LYING AND THE LACK OF GUILT WERE LATER DIAGNOSED AS PSYCHOPATHIC AND A SURVEY OF 83 HYPERACTIVE TEENAGERS FOUND THAT 59 PERCENT HAD HAD CONTACT WITH THE POLICE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS SHOW THAT SUCH DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR PORTENDS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN ADULTHOOD. CLOSE RELATIVES OF HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF THE SAME PSYCHIATIC DISORDERS FOUND IN FAMILIES OF ADULT PSYCHOPATHS, SUGGESTING THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF A HYPERACTIVE CHILD'S PROBLEMS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO GENETIC OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. FURTHERMORE EXCESSIVELY SLOW BRAIN WAVE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN DETECTED IN BOTH HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN AND ADULT PSYCHOPATHS. STIMULANT MEDICATIONS HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF MOST HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN AND ANTISOCIAL ADOLESCENTS. RESEARCHERS HAVE ALSO INVESTIGATED THE LOW CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AROUSAL OF SUBJECTS. TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)