School-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for an Adolescent Presenting with ADHD and Explosive Anger: a Case Study

Abstract

This case demonstrates the efficacy of utilizing an intensive, multi-faceted behavioral intervention paradigm. A comprehensive, integrative, school-based service model was applied to address attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptomology, oppositional behaviors, and explosive anger at the secondary level. The case reviews a multi-modal assessment approach to inform intervention, including a developmental history; parent, teacher, and student interviews; systematic classroom observations; and BASC-2 and Conners parent, teacher, and student social, emotional, and behavior rating reports. Treatment included cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions over 6 months with the implementation of a 9-week classroom Daily Behavior Report Card plan. Outcome data revealed a decrease in office discipline referrals, lower levels of behavior symptoms, and an increase in prosocial classroom behaviors with maintained improvement into the following school year.

The Impact of Modified Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy in Social Adjustment Functions of Children with ADHD and Their Parents’ Stress Levels: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

“…The second component involved teaching coping techniques, including anger management and relaxation techniques. Parker et al (2016) suggested that anger mediates the relationship between automatic thoughts and harmful behaviors; therefore, we taught children using different cognition models to make them less likely to believe their automatic thoughts. In the last part of the session, children were asked to collaborate and brainstorm to envision their future since research shows that positive psychology provides individuals with positive emotions and social support (Park et al, 2014).…”

“…Researchers have found that school-based cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in treating anxiety dis-orders, depression disorders, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorders (Parker et al, 2016). The possibility that CBT helps to improve cognitive functioning and ADHD symptoms is the reason why we believed that modified CBGT was beneficial to both socially adaptive functioning adolescents with ADHD and impulsivity aggression comorbidity as well as their parents' stress.…”

School-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in an Inclusion Model for an Adolescent with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Study

“…Research indicates that one in six children under the age of 17 exhibit behaviors that meet criteria to receive a mental health diagnosis each year (Whitney & Peterson, 2019). In school-aged children and adolescents, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depressive disorders are not only common but are also associated with considerable comorbidity (Parker et al, 2016). Furthermore, research continues to support that the presence of depressive and anxiety disorders significantly increases the overall risk of suicidal behavior in adolescence (Nock et al, 2013; Rohde et al, 1991).…”

“…With the diagnostic intersections of MDD, GAD and ADHD presented in this case, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was chosen as the foundational therapeutic modality due to numerous empirical supports demonstrating its efficacy (David-Ferdon & Kaslow, 2008; Evans et al, 2014; Higa-McMillan et al, 2016). Research has identified CBT as a psychotherapeutic model to address internalizing and externalizing disorders in youth effectively and is considered efficacious for its use in school settings (Parker et al, 2016; Sulkowski et al, 2012). CBT is a psychotherapeutic model that enables students to understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.…”

The impact of modified Cognitive‐Behavioral Group Therapy in social adjustment functions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their parents' stress levels: A nonrandomized clinical trial

“…Researchers have found that school‐based cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in treating anxiety disorders, depression disorders, ADHD, and obsessive‐compulsive disorders (Parker et al, 2016). The possibility that CBT helps to improve cognitive functioning and ADHD symptoms is the reason why we believed that modified CBGT was beneficial to both socially adaptive functioning adolescents with ADHD and impulsivity aggression comorbidity as well as their parents' stress.…”