A Promblem Solving Training Program for Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

A behavior management approach is presented that is designed to enhance the active involvement of children with ADHD in managing their own behavior. In this program emphasis is placed on parents presenting behavior management situations as those where their child must make a choice between compliance and noncompliance. Each of these alternatives is linked to a consequence that is meaningfully connected to the antecedent behavior. Parents are also given instruction in acknowledging feelings, the use of process questions, anger management, and communication skills. The intervention is being delivered in both an individual program of therapy in which pairs of parents meet with the therapists and a group program in which 8-10 parent pairs meet with a pair of therapists. Preliminary findings indicate that the program is effective in reducing parental stress, improving the parents' perception of the child, and improving parental problem solving skills in behavior management situations. The effects appear to be stronger for individual as compared to group therapy.

Group-Based Parenting Programs for Improving Parenting and Psychosocial Functioning: A Systematic Review

“…Twenty-two studies evaluated the effectiveness of a behavioral parenting program (Blakemore et al, 1993;Cunningham et al, 1995;DeGarmo et al, 2004;Gallart & Matthey, 2005;Gutierrez, 2007;Hanisch et al 2010;Hiscock et al, 2008;Irvine et al, 1999;Joachim et al, 2010;Martin & Sanders, 2003;Matsumoto et al, 2007;Matsumoto et al, 2010;Morawska & Sanders 2009;Niccols, 2009;Odom, 1996;Pisterman et al, 1992a;Pisterman et al, 1992b;Sirbu et al, 1978;Turner et al, 2007;van den Hoofdakker et al, 2007;Wang, 2005;Wolfson et al, 1992). This category included programs that were primarily behavioral in orientation and were based on social learning principles.…”

“…Nineteen studies evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral parenting program (Blakemore et al, 1993;Chronis et al, 2006;Gammon Rose, 1991;Gardner et al, 2006;Greaves, 1997;Gross et al, 1995;Gross et al, 2003;Gross et al, 2009;Hutchings et al, 2007;Joyce, 1995;Larsson et al, 2009;Lipman & Boyle 2005;McGillicuddy et al, 2001;Nicholson et al, 2002;Nixon & Singer, 1993;Patterson et al, 2002;Spaccerelli et al, 1992;Taylor et al, 1998;Webster Stratton et al,1988). These programs combined the basic behavioral-type strategies with cognitive strategies aimed at helping parents to identify and change distorted patterns of belief or thought that might be influencing their behavior.…”

“…Some exceptions existed in that four studies recruited not only biological parents but also grandparents, foster parents, stepparents, and relatives (Gross et al, 2003;Gross et al, 2009;Nicholson, Anderson, Fox, & Brenner, 2002;Treacy et al, 2005). Both mothers and fathers were recruited in 19 studies (Blakemore et al, 1993;Fanning, 2007;Gross, Fogg, & Tucker, 1995;Hanisch et al, 2010;Hutchings et al, 2007;Irvine, Biglan, Smolkowski, Metzler, & Ary, 1999;Larsson et al, 2009;Matsumoto et al, 2007;Matsumoto et al, 2010;McGillicuddy, Rychtarik, Duquette, & Morsheimer, 2001;Nixon & Singer, 1993;Pisterman et al, 1992a;Pisterman et al, 1992b;Schultz et al, 1993;Taylor et al, 1998;van den Hoofdakker et al, 2007;Wang, 2005;Webster-Stratton, Kolpacoff, & Hollinsgworth, 1988;Wolfson et al, 1992). In contrast, 12 studies recruited either the mother or the father, but not both parents (Bradley et al, 2003;Cunningham, Bremmer, & Boyle, 1995;Fantuzzo et al, 2007;Gallart & Matthey, 2005;Gardner et al, 2006;Joachim et al, 2010;Martin et al, 2003;Morawska & Sanders, 2009;Patterson et al, 2002;Spaccerelli, Cotler, & Pehnman, 1992;Turner et al, 2007).…”

“…Eleven studies used more than one intervention group (Blakemore et al, 1993;Cunningham et al, 1995;Gallart & Matthey, 2005;Greaves, 1997;Gross et al, 2003;Gutierrez, 2007;Larsson et al, 2009;Sirbu et al, 1978;Spaccerelli et al, 1992;Taylor et al, 1998;Webster Stratton et al, 1988). Gutierrez (2007) used a four-arm approach, and compared two parent education programs (behavioral-based and Adlerian) with either an attentionplacebo control group or a wait-list control condition.…”

“…Diaries and daily practice records completed and discussed. Blakemore (1993) To evaluate the effectiveness of a parenting program in enhancing the self-directedness of children with ADHD and responsibility for their own behavior.…”