Hyperactivity: Symptom Complex or Complex Symptom?

Abstract

The phenomenon of “hyperactivity” is well recognized. Results of long-term follow-up studies show that children diagnosed as “hyperactive” are at risk for severe problems during adolescence and adulthood. However, no common diagnostic criteria exist for “hyperactivity.” The term can refer to a number of very different behaviors, and children diagnosed as “hyperactive” may also exhibit one or more concomitant difficulties. A “hyperactive” child should be carefully assessed to determine the nature of the behavioral problem and its source, and the term “hyperactivity” itself should be used with caution. © 1980, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.