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Diagnosing and treating attentional difficulties: a nationwide survey
Author(s) -
Reading Richard
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2005.00500_8.x
Subject(s) - etiology , stimulant , psychiatry , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , pediatrics
Aims To ascertain from paediatricians and child psychiatrists their views regarding the aetiology, assessment and diagnosis of attentional difficulties in children, and the prescribing of stimulant medication for such difficulties. Methods Using a questionnaire devised by the authors, 465 paediatricians and 444 child psychiatrists were surveyed. Results The overall response rate was 73%. Some 94% of child psychiatrists and 29% of paediatricians routinely dealt with attentional difficulties. Views on aetiology, classification and diagnosis were varied. More than 60% of both groups were prepared to prescribe stimulant medication without a formal diagnosis being made. Co‐morbid conduct disorder and the views of other professionals and of parents have an impact on practice. Conclusions This survey demonstrates that there is a range of approaches to attentional difficulties by both paediatricians and child psychiatrists.