Hyperactivity. Symptom complex or complex symptom?
M. D. Levine and F. Oberklaid
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.
