Children with ADHD treated with long-term methylphenidate and multimodal psychosocial treatment: impact on parental practices.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To test the hypothesis that multimodal psychosocial intervention, which includes parent training, combined with methylphenidate significantly enhances the behavior of parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), compared with methylphenidate alone and compared with methylphenidate and nonspecific psychosocial treatment (attention control).

METHOD:

One hundred three children with ADHD (ages 7-9), free of conduct and learning disorders, who responded to short-term methylphenidate therapy were randomized for 2 years to receive either (1) methylphenidate treatment alone; (2) methylphenidate plus psychosocial treatment that included parent training and counseling, social skills training, academic assistance, and psychotherapy; or (3) methylphenidate plus attention control treatment. Parents rated their knowledge of parenting principles and negative and positive parenting behavior. Children rated their parents' behavior.

RESULTS:

Psychosocial treatment led to significantly better knowledge of parenting principles but did not enhance parenting practices, as rated by parents and children. Significant improvement in mothers' negative parenting occurred across all treatments and was maintained.

CONCLUSIONS:

In nonconduct-disordered, stimulant-treated children with ADHD, parent training does not improve self-rated parental behavior. The benefits of brief stimulant treatment for negative parental behavior are sustained with extended treatment.

• Authors: Lily Hechtman, Howard Abikoff, Rachel G Klein, Brian Greenfield, Joy Etcovitch, Lorne Cousins, Karen Fleiss, Margaret Weiss, Simcha Pollack
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry) Vol. 43 Issue 7 Pg. 830-8 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 0890-8567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15213584 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Methylphenidate

Topics

• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (drug therapy, therapy)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Methylphenidate (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Psychotherapy (methods)