Basic Concepts on Hyperkinesis in Children

Abstract

With the purpose of clarifying the meaning and clinical manifestations of the syndrome, the discussion begins within the following framework: there is an identifiable set of signs and symptoms; the syndrome is multifactorial and exists in degrees; it deals with a diagnosticable condition in which organic factors seem to be essential, and the syndrome is characterized by alterations of different types. Within the setting of psychiatric theories of child pathology which concluded that all psychological problems had essentially the same etiology and, therefore, treatment, dominant in the first half of the century, the author traces the relevant clinical work carried on during this period which caused attention to be turned toward organic factors and the posterior identification of similar signs and symptoms. Later research from diverse fields broadened knowledge and at present, two positions are discernible: one of acceptance and the other negating reality to the organic hypothesis because the existence of the syndrome's is made to depend on demonstrable structural brain damage. position which obliges the problem to depart from etiological biases.