ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Diagnosing and treating attentional difficulties: a nationwide survey

I McKenzie¹ and C Wurr²

¹ Glen Acre House Child and Family Service, 21 Acre House Avenue, Lindley, Huddersfield HD3 3BB, UK
² Cringlebar House, 415 Bradford Road, Leeds LS28 7HQ, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
C Wurr
Cringlebar House, 415 Bradford Road, Leeds LS28 7HQ, UK; kate.wurr{at}nhs.net

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. Comorbid 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.

Abbreviations: ADHD, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; ICD, International Classification of Diseases; NICE, National Institute for Clinical Excellence; SM, stimulant medication

Keywords: assessment; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; hyperkinetic disorder; prescribing practice; professional attitudes

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