Transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade: breve revisão teórica no contexto da neuropsicologia infantil

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common diagnoses made today with a high prevalence in children and one of the main causes for seeking care in outpatient mental health by children and adolescents. The main characteristics are the deficits in attention and hyperactivity / impulsivity behaviors, causing emotional and psychosocial damage. Cognitive deficits are also observed in children with ADHD, including the working memory and executive functions (EF), causing difficulties in situations of making decision and self-monitoring. The use of specific techniques and instruments for examining neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functions involved in ADHD are important for understanding the neuropsychology of this pathology, as well as for diagnosis and treatment of this condition. This article aims to present a brief theoretical review of the literature on ADHD in clinical and neuropsychological context.