Comprehensive management of the hyperkinetic child.

Family practitioners have been and will continue to be, in all countries, "front line psychiatrists" for their communities. This fact is particularly true for child care, since child psychiatrists are so few in number, and they are hardly able to see, still less treat even the tip of the iceburg of troubled children. Parents and schools turn first of all to their family physician. Today, quite commonly, the defined problem is "he's hyperactive" -- a term which has appeared in educational, medical, scientific and general literature since the 1950's. A practical and comprehensive approach towards understanding and management of these children is outlined here, with the suggestion that a copy of this paper could productively be shared with parents, teachers and even the affected child, depending upon his or her cognitive level.