The Effect of Parent Training on Hyperactivity and Inattention in Three School-Aged Girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ABSTRACT

Parent training is often used to treat non-compliance and social problems in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Smith and Barrett (2000) found that a parent training intervention led to improved compliance and core ADHD symptoms in 3 school-aged girls. The current study extended findings from Smith and Barrett (2000) by directly examining changes in hyperactivity and inattentiveness in the same 3 girls. Five child behaviors indexing inattention and hyperactivity were assessed from home observations of parent-child interactions made before, during, and after the parent training program. Body Fidgeting (gross motor movements and leaving one's seat) declined significantly. It was the only child behavior variable correlated with parent reports of attention, behavior, and emotional problems on the Child Behavior Checklist. Off-Task behaviors grew worse over the course of parent training. Such findings suggest that parent training programs may narrowly focus on overt behaviors at the expense of other symptoms. Further, it may be that increasing parent intervention with some child behaviors (e.g., fidgeting) reduces the family's ability to manage other ADHD-related problems (e.g., inattention).

KEYWORDS:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• ADHD
• hyperactivity
• inattention
• parent training
• child behavior therapy