ADHD (Photo : You Tube)
The results of a study conducted and published online by Pediatrics on 156 children, who have not yet been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder but were previously recommended for testing by their primary-care providers, recommended "family-centered care" to be effective.
The children, ages 6-12, were enrolled in a randomized comparative effectiveness trial to determine which approach results to greater improvement of the symptoms.
Dr. Michael Silverstein, an associate professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine who authored the study, along with his colleagues, followed the children for a year. As a part of the investigation, the kids were randomly chosen and given either standard collaborative care or enhanced collaborative care.
Training was given to care managers who were selected to give enhanced care in the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) as well as taught a technique known as motivational interviewing.
Empathy plays a vital role in motivational interviewing where a family and a care manager try to build a relationship. This non-confrontational approach, based on compassion, equality and acceptance, helps the family identify what they want as well as achieve their goals.
After a year, improvements were seen on the children. These were on impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention and social skills. However, more significant positive results were manifested by those who showed symptoms of ADHD and given enhanced collaborative care.
Children who were given standard collaborative care but did not show symptoms of the disorder did not exhibit the same manifestations.
The goal of the research study was to lessen the factors that hamper the ability of the child to be treated successfully, whether family or economic causes; a mother who also has mental disorders or the child diagnosed with other disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, among others.
Meanwhile, Examiner reported that among the children who were in the study, 40 percent were diagnosed with ADHD.
The author of the study said improvements were seen on these children because their families were able to stay within the perimeters of giving enhanced collaborative care.
"Among children with ADHD-consistent presentations, addressing barriers to engagement with care and challenging child behaviors has potential to improve the effectiveness of collaborative care," researchers of the study concluded.
