As a GP, from time to time, you’ll have parents bringing in their children with concerns about their behaviour, which may manifest as aggression, temper tantrums and hyperactivity as well as anxiety and depression. When reviewing these children, it’s important to do a comprehensive assessment, including a full history and examination. Their development, life events and family situation should be reviewed. Organic cause, including iron deficiency, should be considered and excluded.

In this podcast, we listen to recording of a webinar with Marie Rauter, a paediatrician at the Royal Hobart Hospital, who presents a case and discusses the diagnosis of ADHD. Marie highlights the comprehensive assessment we, as GPs, can complete, and she outlines the management options she would consider as a paediatrician. Resources like the “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” and the “SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale” are mentioned, and are worth looking up as they are invaluable tools in assessing these children.

For further reading:

Assessing development and behavioural problems (MJA 2005)

Problem behaviour in children (AFP 2011)

ADHD – An Overview (RCH Kids Health info)