In this latter study , outcomes were better for girls and for children on medication .
Positive results on an inventory of child behaviour problems were reported for one small study ( n = 24 ) with the caveat that results were only positive when parent training was delivered to individuals and not groups .
Results for this outcome from a small study ( n = 24 ) suggested a long-term benefit for mothers who received the intervention at an individual level ; in contrast , fathers benefited from short-term group treatment .
Parent training may have a positive effect on the behaviour of children with ADHD .
It may also reduce parental stress and enhance parental confidence .
BACKGROUND Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by high levels of inattention , hyperactivity and impulsivity that are present before the age of seven years , seen in a range of situations , inconsistent with the child 's developmental level and causing social or academic impairment .
Parent training programmes are psychosocial interventions aim ed at training parents in techniques to enable them to manage their children 's challenging behaviour .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether parent training interventions are effective in reducing ADHD symptoms and associated problems in children aged between five and eigtheen years with a diagnosis of ADHD , compared to controls with no parent training intervention .
A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The MTA Cooperative Group. Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD.
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated the short-term efficacy of pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) , but no longer-term ( i.e. , > 4 months ) investigations have compared these 2 treatments or their combination . METHODS A group of 579 children with ADHD Combined Type , aged 7 to 9.9 years , were assigned to 14 months of medication management ( titration followed by monthly visits ) ; intensive behavioral treatment ( parent , school , and child components , with therapist involvement gradually reduced over time ) ; the two combined ; or st and ard community care ( treatments by community providers ) . Outcomes were assessed in multiple domains before and during treatment and at treatment end point ( with the combined treatment and medication management groups continuing medication at all assessment points ) . Data were analyzed through intent-to-treat r and om-effects regression procedures . RESULTS All 4 groups showed sizable reductions in symptoms over time , with significant differences among them in degrees of change . For most ADHD symptoms , children in the combined treatment and medication management groups showed significantly greater improvement than those given intensive behavioral treatment and community care . Combined and medication management treatments did not differ significantly on any direct comparisons , but in several instances ( oppositional/aggressive symptoms , internalizing symptoms , teacher-rated social skills , parent-child relations , and reading achievement )  combined treatment proved superior to intensive behavioral treatment and /or community care while medication management did not . Study medication strategies were superior to community care treatments , despite the fact that two thirds of community-treated subjects received medication during the study period . CONCLUSIONS For ADHD symptoms , our carefully crafted medication management was superior to behavioral treatment and to routine community care that included medication . Our combined treatment did not yield significantly greater benefits than medication management for core ADHD symptoms , but may have provided modest advantages for non-ADHD symptom and positive functioning outcomes
In this latter study , outcomes were better for girls and for children on medication .
Positive results on an inventory of child behaviour problems were reported for one small study ( n = 24 ) with the caveat that results were only positive when parent training was delivered to individuals and not groups .
Results for this outcome from a small study ( n = 24 ) suggested a long-term benefit for mothers who received the intervention at an individual level ; in contrast , fathers benefited from short-term group treatment .
Parent training may have a positive effect on the behaviour of children with ADHD .
It may also reduce parental stress and enhance parental confidence .
BACKGROUND Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by high levels of inattention , hyperactivity and impulsivity that are present before the age of seven years , seen in a range of situations , inconsistent with the child 's developmental level and causing social or academic impairment .
Parent training programmes are psychosocial interventions aim ed at training parents in techniques to enable them to manage their children 's challenging behaviour .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether parent training interventions are effective in reducing ADHD symptoms and associated problems in children aged between five and eigtheen years with a diagnosis of ADHD , compared to controls with no parent training intervention .