Motor coordination and emotional-behavioral problems in children.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

To summarize recent research on developmental coordination disorder (DCD), with particular attention to comorbidity and related questions of etiology.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Although a general consensus on the disorder definition exists, case identification in research studies remains problematic. Despite this, recent research has reported high levels of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and internalizing disorders among children with poor motor coordination. These findings offer some support for the longstanding view that DCD may be one facet of a broader syndrome that includes learning difficulties and deficits in attention. 'Pure' cases are common, however, and other work suggests that DCD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have distinct causes. There is also some evidence that internalizing disorder may be a consequence of DCD.

SUMMARY:

Measurement issues in DCD persist, whereas findings on comorbidity have both illuminated the nature of the disorder and heightened debate on its usefulness as a distinct diagnostic entity.

• Authors: John Cairney, Scott Veldhuizen, Peter Szatmari
• Journal: Current opinion in psychiatry (Curr Opin Psychiatry) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 324-9 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1473-6578 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20520549 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Child
• Child Behavior Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Comorbidity
• Humans
• Mood Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Motor Skills Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)