| Sumario: | The current state of children's mental health is a public health crisis according to the Surgeon General of the United States ('The epidemic in children,' 2001; Suttenfield, 2001). One in 10 children and/or adolescents suffers from mental illness severe enough to cause impairment. Less than one half of those affected receive treatment ('The epidemic in children,' 2001). Attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) is the most often diagnosed among children's mental health disorders (Brown, 2000). Six of every 7 children who require medication for ADHD are treated by primary care providers (Safer, 1996). Early and accurate diagnosis of children with ADHD is essential, along with proper follow-up intervention and treatment (Elia, Ambrosini, & Rapoport, 1999). The purpose of this article is to present an overview of ADHD to enhance diagnosis and treatment by primary care providers.
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