You have free access to this content

Undertreatment of Motor Problems in Children with ADHD

  1. Ellen A. Fliers1,2,
  2. Barbara Franke1,3,
  3. Nanda N.J. Lambregts-Rommelse1,5,
  4. Marieke E. Altink1,7,
  5. Cathelijne J.M. Buschgens1,
  6. Maria W.G. Nijhuis-van der Sanden4,
  7. Joseph A. Sergeant5,
  8. Stephen V. Faraone6,
  9. Jan K. Buitelaar1,7

Article first published online: 21 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2009.00538.x

Issue

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 85–90, May 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fliers, E. A., Franke, B., Lambregts-Rommelse, N. N.J., Altink, M. E., Buschgens, C. J.M., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M. W.G., Sergeant, J. A., Faraone, S. V. and Buitelaar, J. K. (2010), Undertreatment of Motor Problems in Children with ADHD. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 15: 85–90. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2009.00538.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: e.fliers@psy.umcn.nl

  2. 2

    BAVO-Europoort Youth Department, 3083 BD Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  3. 3

    Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands

  4. 4

    Department of Paediatric Physical Therapy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands

  5. 5

    Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  6. 6

    Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

  7. 7

    Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

  1. Conflict of interest statement: SF receives research support from the following sources: McNeil Pediatrics, Eli Lilly & Company, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Development and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke; is a speaker for the following speaker’s bureaus: Eli Lilly & Company, McNeil Pediatrics, Cephalon, Novartis and Shire Laboratories; has had an advisory or consulting relationship with the following pharmaceutical companies: McNeil Pediatrics, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Shire Laboratories, Cephalon, Novartis and Eli Lilly & Company. JS has been an advisor to Lilly, Janssen-Cilag BV and Shire. JB has been a consultant to / member of advisory board of / and/or speaker for Janssen Cilag BV, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myer Squibb, UBC, Shire and Medice.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 APR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 21 AUG 2009

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (174K)

Keywords:

  • ADHD;
  • motor problems;
  • children;
  • developmental coordination disorder questionnaire;
  • comorbidity;
  • physiotherapy

Background:  Motor problems occur in 30% to 50% of children with ADHD, and have a severe impact on daily life. In clinical practice there seems to be little attention for this comorbidity with the possible consequence that these motor problems go undertreated.

Method:  Clinical interview and questionnaire survey of treatment by physiotherapy and factors predicting treatment of motor problems in 235 children with ADHD and 108 controls.

Results:  Half of motor-affected children had received physiotherapy. Treated children had more severe motor problems, and less frequently presented with comorbid anxiety and conduct disorder. Treated and untreated children were similar in age, and rated similarly on ADHD inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive scales and parental socio-economic status.

Conclusion:  Currently, undertreatment of motor problems in ADHD occurs. Behavioural factors play a role in referral and intervention.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (174K)