title: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD): parental characterization and perception.
abstract: Sixty-six parents of adolescents (mean age, 14.8 years), who attended special education classes and who were diagnosed as having attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD), were interviewed. The comorbidity of the ADHD group included emotional lability and/or depression, 70%; oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), 67%; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 44%; addiction to buying, 44%; and aggressiveness, 62%. Twenty-one percent were either involved in the past or presently using drugs. Nine percent had attempted suicide. According to their parents, the main characteristic of these adolescents was low self-image. Parents enumerated five negative characteristics: impulsiveness; nervousness; angered easily ('short fused'); aggressiveness with cursing and outbursts; and impaired sociability with impoliteness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 5, Holon 58100, Israel. brookuzo@post.tac.ac.il
authors.forename: Uzi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boaz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires