Abstract
This report describes a population-based study of deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP) in six-year-old Swedish urban children. The point prevalance was 2.8% and the boy:girl ratio 5.3∶1. A questionnaire and motor examination screening device is described and evaluated. In a group of 25 children with DAMP, interventions of various kinds were made when the children were 6–7 years old. These cases were followed up at age 10–11 years and compared with 42 cases who had received no intervention. The follow-up study was fraught with problems and the data obtained could only be used for highly preliminary conclusions. However, it appears that information to parents, children and teachers about the nature of the child's condition might be helpful.
Résumé
Ce travail décrit une étude de population présentant des déficits de l'attention, du contrôle moteur et de la perception (DAMP) chez des enfants suédois âgés de 6 ans en milieu urbain. Le point de prévalence était de 2,8% et le ratio garçon/fille de 5,3∶1. Un questionnaire et un dispositif d'évaluation et d'examens de la motricité est décrit et évalué. Dans un groupe de 25 enfants présentant ces déficits (DAMP), des interventions de différentes natures ont été faites quand les enfants étaient âgés de 6 à 7 ans. Ces cas ont été suivis jusqu'à l'âge de 10–11 ans et comparés avec 32 cas qui n'avaient reçu aucune intervention. L'étude de suivi fut entachée de problèmes et les données obtenues ne peuvent être utilisées que pour des conclusions tout-à-fait préliminaires. Cependant, il apparaît que l'information des parents, des enfants et des enseignants sur la nature de la condition de l'enfant pourrait être utile.
Zusammenfassung
Berichtet wird über eine epidemiologische Studie an 6jährigen schwedischen Kindern aus einer städtischen Bevölkerung mit Störungen der Aufmerksamkeit, der motorischen Kontrolle und der Wahrnehmung. Die Punktprävalenz in der Stichprobe betrug 2,8%, das Verhältnis von Jungen zu Mädchen 5,3∶1: Beschrieben und evaluiert werden ein Fragebogen und eine Screeningmethode zur Untersuchung der motorischen Kontrolle. In einer Gruppe von 25 Kindern mit dem genannten Syndrom wurden verschiedene Interventionen durchgeführt als die Kinder 6 bis 7 Jahre alt waren. Diese Stichprobe wurde im Alter von 10 bis 11 Jahren nachuntersucht und in 42 Fällen verglichen, bei denen keine Intervention stattgefunden hatte. Die Nachuntersuchung war jedoch in verschiedener Hinsicht problematisch, so daß die erhobenen Daten nur sehr vorläufige Schlußfolgerungen erlauben. Jedoch wurde deutlich, daß Informationen für Eltern, Kinder und Lehrer über die Natur der Störung hilfreich sind.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1980).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: APA.
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., revised). Washington, DC: APA.
Blythe, P. (1978). Minimal brain dysfynction and the treatment of the psychoneuroses.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 22, 247–255.
Conners, C.K. (1969). A teacher rating scale for use in drug studies with children.American Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 884–888.
Gillberg, C., Carlström, G., Rasmussen, P. & Waldenström, E. (1983). Perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in seven-year-old children. Neurological screening aspects.Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica, 72, 119–124.
Gillberg, C. & Gillberg, I.C. (1983). Infantile autism: a total population study of reduced optimality in the pre-, peri-, and neonatal period.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 13, 153–166.
Gillberg, C. & Rasmussen, P. (1982). Perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in seven-year-old children. Background factors.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 24, 752–770.
Gillberg, C. & Rasmussen, P. (1991). Nordic consensus on so called MBD: An obsolete and inadequate diagnostic label.Läkartidningen, 88, 713–717 (in Swedish).
Gillberg, C., Rasmussen, P., Carlström, G., Svenson, B. & Waldenström, E. (1982). Perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in six-year-old children. Epidemiological aspects.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23, 131–144.
Gillberg, I.C. (1985). Children with minor developmental disorders. III. Neurological and neurodevelopmental problems at age 10.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 27, 3–16.
Gillberg, I.C. (1987).Deficits in Attention, Motor control and Perception: Follow-up from Preschool to the Early Teens. Uppsala: M. D. Thesis, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis.
Gillberg, I.C., Gillberg, C. & Rasmussen, P. (1983). Three-year follow-up at age 10 of children with minor neurodevelopmental disorders. II. School achievement problems.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 25, 566–573.
Jacobovitz, D., Sroufe, L. A., Stewart, M. et al. (1990). Treatment of additional and hyperactivity problems in children with sympathomimetric drugs: A comprehensive review.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 677–688.
Rasmussen, P. & Gillberg, C. (1983). Perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in seven-year-old children. Paediatric aspects.Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica, 72, 125–130.
Rasmussen, P., Gillberg, C., Waldenström, E. & Svenson, B. (1983). Perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in seven-year-old children: Neurological and neurodevelopmental aspects.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 25, 315–333.
Rutter, M. (1967). A children's behaviour questionnaire for completion by teachers. Preliminary findings.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 8, 1–11.
Rutter, M., Graham, P. & Yule, W. (1970).A Neuropsychiatric Study in Childhood. Oxford: Clinics in Developmental Medicine, 35/36.
Touwen, B.C.L. (1979).Examination of the child with minor neurological dysfunction (2nd ed.). Oxford: Clinics in Developmental Medicine, 71.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gillberg, I.C., Winnergård, I. & Gillberg, C. Screening methods, epidemiology and evaluation of intervention in DAMP in preschool children. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2, 121–135 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02125567
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02125567