[Multimodal therapy of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and their parents in in-patient rehabilitation]

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent psychic disorders of childhood, characterized by high persistence and an increased risk for the development of externalising disorders of behavior. Due to ADHD increased problems can be frequently observed at school as well as in the social and emotional context of the child. Concepts for in-patient rehabilitation have not been developed, although effective modifications of the behavior of ADHD patients appeared to be achievable under the conditions found in in-patient rehabilitation.

Objective: The present pilot study aimed to evaluate whether this newly developed concept has any benefit on psychological problems, coping and quality of life.

Method: In total, n = 28 boys with ADHD 7 to 12 years old were included into a quasi-experimental pre-post design and completed self-report questionnaires on psychological problems, coping and quality of life. In addition, 26 mothers evaluated the behavior problems, psychological problems and quality of life of their sons at the beginning and the end of in-patient rehabilitation. During a 4-week in-patient rehabilitation all children and their mothers took part in a multimodal training containing components of behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (self-instruction, self-management, and stress management), applied in child-, parent-child- and parent-centered interventions.

Results: Parents estimated the behavior problems of their children as significantly reduced after in-patient rehabilitation as compared to before. In addition, psychological problems and quality of life improved significantly in self- and parent-proxy reports during the in-patient rehabilitation.

Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that this multimodal therapy concept is an effective tool for the treatment of ADHD patients. However, a replication of our results in a control-group study on a larger population is required.