Dados do Trabalho

Título

APPLICATION OF THE CONNERS' SCALE IN CHILDREN WITH ACADEMIC UNDERACHIEVEMENT

Introdução

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is considered a concern for educators, especially during school time. It is characterized by inattention, impulsivity and excessive motor activity, which impair the neurocognitive development of these children. Screening by professionals is essential for early diagnosis and treatment. In order to perform diagnostic screening, the Conners' Scale is used by parents or guardians.

Objetivo

To applicate the Conners' Scale–Brazilian Version by Francisco Rosa Neto for screening of ADHD in children with academic underachievement assisted in a university hospital’s outpatient clinic of academic underachievement. The variables evaluated were age, gender, and Conners’ Scale score.

Método

A cross-sectional, observational, and epidemiological study was conducted by evaluation of the medical records and their respective scores on the Conners' Scale-Francisco Rosa Neto’s Brazilian Version of students with low academic performance. For this research the following cutoff points of the scale were used: Hyperactivity/Impulsivity: 10; Attention Deficit: 10; Conduct Disorder: 11; Hyperactivity + Attention Deficit: 18; and global ADHD: 30.

Resultados

One hundred and twelve records were evaluated, of which, 68 had the Conners' Scale filled in; 45 (66.1%) were male and 23 (33.8%) female. Ages ranged from 6 to 14 years old. Concerning grade, it ranged from 1st to 8th grades of elementary school. Concerning Conners’ Scale, 20 (29.4%) presented hyperactivity/impulsivity (15 male and 5 female); 39(57.3%) Attention Deficit (23 male and 16 female); 22(32.3%) conduct disorder (15 male and 7 female); 35 (51.4%) hyperactivity associated with attention déficit (22 male and 13 female) and 25(36.7%) Global attention deficit-hyperactivity (16 male and 9 female).

Conclusão

In this study, there was a predominance of Attention-Deficit Disorder followed by Hyperactivity + Attention Deficit. There was a predominance of males, externalizing problems such as global ADHD are more common in boys, as evidenced in the literature. . Therefore, these results warn to the need for early interventions in ADHD, so that appropriate treatment can reduce the impact of this disorder throughout life.

Referências

MERCUGLIANO, M. What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Pediatric Clinics of North America, v. 46, n. 5, p. 831-843, out. 1999. DOI: 10.1016/s0031-3955(05)70157-7. PMID: 10570690.

ROHDE, Luis Augusto et al. Transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry [online]. 2000, v. 22, supl. 2 [Acessado em: 20 jul. 2024], p. 07-11. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462000000600003. Epub 24 jan. 2001. ISSN 1809-452X. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462000000600003.

Palavras Chave

Children; Underachievement; ADHD