A randomised control trial of parent and child training programmes (versus wait list control) for children with ADHD-type behaviours: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objective: A randomised control trial was conducted to assess whether the combined Incredible Years parent training and child training programmes (PT + CT) led to improvements in ADHD-type behaviours in children, when compared to a PT-only group and a Wait List Control (WLC) group. Method: Forty-five families with a child aged 3–7 years who displayed ADHD-type behaviours were referred for treatment and randomised to a combined treatment group (PT + CT; n = 12), a PT group (n = 19) or a WLC group (n = 14). Programmes were delivered by community-based organisations. Short-term follow-up (six months) assessments were undertaken with parents and children based on parent reports of child behaviour and parent well-being and behaviour. A qualitative sub-study was also conducted with parent participants (n = 8) and programme facilitators (n = 5) to explore experiences and views of the combined programme. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the PT group and the WLC group with regard to child hyperactivity (p < 0.001) and pro-social skills (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the combined group (PT + CT) and the PT group except for child hyperactivity (p < 0.05), which was significantly lower in the PT-only group. Significant effects were found for PT + CT versus WLC on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Impact subscale only. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the combined treatment (PT + CT) produced little added benefit for child hyperactive/inattentive behaviour post-intervention despite the very positive views expressed by parents in the qualitative interviews. The PT training alone was more effective in tackling some core ADHD behaviours when compared to the WLC group, but a need for further more large-scale research is indicated. Trial Registration: ISRCTN82596506.

KEYWORDS:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• randomised control trial
• parent training
• child training
• combined treatment

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Yvonne Leckey is Researcher, Centre for Mental Health & Community Research, Maynooth University, Ireland.

Prof. Sinead McGilloway is Director, Centre for Mental Health & Community Research, Maynooth University, Ireland.

Dr Grainne Hickey is Research Programme Manager, Centre for Mental Health & Community Research, Maynooth University, Ireland.

Mairead Bracken-Scally is Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Paul Kelly belongs to School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Mairead Furlong is Research Programme Coordinator, Centre for Mental Health & Community Research, Maynooth University, Ireland.

ORCID

Yvonne Leckey http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6257-8105

Notes

1 One child, aged 2.9 years, was slightly outside of the eligibility criteria but was included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

The Incredible Years Ireland Study was funded by Archways with support from The Atlantic Philanthropies.