A Controlled Evaluation of a Sport-Specific Performance Optimization Program in an Athlete Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder Within the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

Adolescent athletes with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) experience unique challenges that impact their sport performance, such as making errors due to poor concentration. The current multiple-baseline across behaviors case trial (i.e., positive assertion and negative assertion) is an evaluation of The Optimum Performance Program in Sports in an adolescent athlete diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. Intervention skill sets were targeted sequentially in a virtual format to safeguard against COVID-19 contraction. A battery of psychological measures was administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Results indicated negative and positive assertion skills improved, but only when targeted, and severity of ADHD and ODD symptom severity, general mental health symptoms, and factors interfering with sport performance decreased from pre- to post-intervention and these improvements were maintained at 1-month follow-up. Similar improvements occurred in relationships with coaches, teammates, and family. Treatment integrity and consumer satisfaction were high.

Controlled Evaluation of a Sport-Specific Performance Optimization Program in a Biracial Black and White Athlete Diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and Agoraphobia

“…, 2015; Galante and Donohue, 2019; Gavrilova et al, 2017; Pitts et al, 2014), and in one randomized controlled trial, as diagnostic severity increased TOPPS became increasingly effective relative to campus counseling in collegiate athletes who were assessed for various mental health disorders; most often evidencing substance use, anxiety, and mood disorders (Donohue et al, 2018). TOPPS has demonstrated similar improved outcomes in an uncontrolled case trials involving racially diverse adolescent athletes presenting with social anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder (Donohue et al, 2021; Phrathep et al, 2021, 2022) up to 1-month follow-up. The present study examined the initial efficacy of TOPPS for improving mental health, athletic performance, and relationship outcomes for a biracial adolescent athlete diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia.…”

Family-Based Optimization Intervention Implemented through Video-Conferencing to Address Major Depressive Disorder in a Latina Adolescent Athlete During COVID-19

“…The protocols used for TOPPS with college athletes has undergone adaptations to fit the experience of adolescent athletes (Donohue et al, 2021;Phrathep et al, 2021). The intervention principles, therapeutic style, and overarching procedures implemented in this case study were consistent with those used in Donohue et al (2021).…”

“…TOPPS has demonstrated significant improvements in collegiate athletes' relationships, interferences with sports performance, and problems associated with mental health symptomology up to eight months post-intervention in clinical trials (Chow et al, 2015;Donohue et al, 2015;Galante et al., 2017;Gavrilova et al, 2016;, and in one controlled trial particularly as mental health diagnostic severity increased (Donohue et al, 2018). Additionally, in an uncontrolled case trial and controlled case trial involving an Asian-American female adolescent athlete diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and a low-SES white male adolescent athlete diagnosed with attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, respectively, an adaptation of this intervention was determined to lead to similar improvements up to one-month follow-up (Donohue et al, 2021;Phrathep et al, 2021). The results of these studies suggest TOPPS may be efficacious in treating MDD in adolescents from marginalized populations.…”

“…Zoom is a video-conferencing software that has been widely used by mental health providers and has shown to be efficacious in delivering behavioral therapies (Boelen et al, 2020). In addition, its integration into TOPPS implementation has been indicated previously (Donohue et al, 2016;Phrathep et al, 2021).…”