[Graphic skills in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequent neuropsychiatric disorder in childhood and its prevalence rate is between 3 5%.

We describe a study of 601 children aged between 8 and 9 in the 3rd and 4th years of primary education from 17 public schools in the area around Badajoz. The results of the Conners rating scale (CRS) and the drawings of the familial figure done to explore the following variables were analysed and compared: dominant or valued figure, number of colours used, number of anatomical elements (nose, mouth, etc.) and the complements included in the key figure (rings, skirts, etc.).

Of all the schoolchildren who drew the picture in the classroom (n = 601), useful information was obtained from the CRS by teachers in 562 cases. 5% presented clinical traits of hyperactivity (HA); 2.5% met attention deficit (AD) criteria; 10% presented behavioural disorders (BD), and 7.5% showed signs of combined ADHD. Prevalence rate by sexes: ratio 3:1 (male: female) for AD; 5.5:1 for HA; 4:1 for BD. Drawing of the family (main variables): dominant figure: father (48%); mean size: 7.258 cm (range: 2.00 16.50 cm; SD: 2.57). Number of colours employed: 6.53 (SD: 2.90). A difference of two colours was observed for children with AD and HA (p = 0.011 and p =.0001, respectively).

When this pattern is compared with the results from children with ADHD, a clear graphic deviation is observed in the model of the drawing of the familial figure.