[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A survey to evaluate risk factors, associated factors and parental child rearing behavior].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between several adversity factors and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), to evaluate the existence of associated factors and to investigate parental rearing behaviors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty subjects between 7 and 8 years of age were studied. These patients belonged to a transversal study of 263 subjects that had completed the Revised Conners' Parent and Teacher Rating Scales. The authors evaluated the presence of seven probable adversity factors including: low socio-economic status, large family size, history of psychiatric disorders in first grade family members, drug abuse in parents, presence of psychological problems in the mother, perinatal pathology in the child and "difficult" temperament during early childhood. The associated factors studied were accident proneness, left motor preference, soft neurological signs, low vocabulary coefficient, poor academic achievement, low self-esteem, symptoms of anxiety and depression. EMBU-P questionnaires were used to assess parental rearing behavior. RESULTS: Two adversity factors were present in a statistically significant proportion, large family size and "difficult" temperament in early childhood, as well as two associated factors, left-handedness and low self-esteem. No statistically significant association between parental rearing behavior and ADHD was observed. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to keep in mind the different risk factors and associated factors of ADHD which could help to make an early diagnosis of the disorder which is very important because of its high prevalence and co-morbility.