E-ISSN : 2733-4538
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and impairing disorder affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Due to the increasing range of available options, selection and prioritization of treatments is becoming harder for clinicians. This review aims to provide a review of the literature on evidence-based psychotherapy treatments for ADHD supplemented by expert opinion on plausibility of symptoms improvement. In this paper, several meta-studies, which were conducted mainly in the United State and Korea were reviewed. As a result, behavioral parental training, behavioral classroom management, behavioral peer relationship intervention, and a combination of behavioral techniques were suggested as psychological treatment techniques. These techniques have been repeatedly proven to be effective in well-designed studies. In Korean studies, the effectiveness of non-behavioral techniques such as play therapy or art therapy has been demonstrated. These findings of this review are likely to be influenced by a number of factors such as research design, use of a control group, and measurement selection. Better designed follow-up studies are needed.
Abikoff, H., Gallagher, R., Wells, K. C., Murray, D. W., Huang, L., Lu, F., & Petkova, E. (2013). Remediating organizational functioning in children with ADHD: Immediate and long-term effects from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81, 113.
Akhondzadeh, S., Mohammadi, M. R., & Khademi, M. (2004). Zinc sulfate as an adjunct to methylphenidate for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: A double blind and randomized trial. BMC Psychiatry, 4, 8-9.
Anastopoulos, A. D., DuPaul, G. J., & Barkley, R. A. (1991). Stimulant medication and parent training therapies for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24, 210-218.
American Psychiatry Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5th ed). Arlington, V: American Psychiatric Pub.
Babinski, D. E., Waxmonsky, J. G., Waschbusch, D. A., & Pelham, Jr., W. E. (2015). Behavioral observations of parents with ADHD during parent training. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22, 1289-1296.
Barkley, R. A. (1987). Defiant children. New York: Guilford Press.
Barkley, R. A. (2013). Defiant children: A clinician’s manual for assessment and parent training. New York: Guilford Press.
Barkley, R. A., & Fischer, M. (2010). The unique contribution of emotional impulsiveness to impairment in major life activities in hyperactive children as adults. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 49, 503-513.
Barkley, R. A., Murphy, K. R., & Fischer, M. (2010). ADHD in adults: What the science says. New York: Guilford Press.
Beck, S. J., Hanson, C. A., Puffenberger, S. S., Benninger, K. L., & Benninger, W. B. (2010). A controlled trial of working memory training for children and adolescents with ADHD. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 39, 825-836.
Bul, K. C., Kato, P., Vander Oord, S., Danckaerts, M., Vreeke, L., Willems, A., . . . Amelsvoort, V. (2016). Behavioral outcome effects of serious gaming as an adjunct to treatment for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18, e26.
Chacko, A., Wymbs, B. T., Wymbs, F. A., Pelham, W. E., Swanger- Gagne, M. S., Girio, E., . . . Psychology, A. (2009). Enhancing traditional behavioral parent training for single mothers of children with ADHD. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 38, 206-218.
Chad, E., & Shin, S. (2014). Knowledge, attitudes, and usage of evidence-based assessment and treatment practices in the Korean mental health system: Current status and future directions. The Korean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33, 891-917.
Chambless, D. L., & Ollendick, T. H. (2001). Empirically supported psychological interventions: Controversies and evidence. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 685-716.
Chronis-Tuscano, A., Wang, C. H., Strickland, J., Almirall, D., & Stein, M. A. (2016). Personalized treatment of mothers with ADHD and their young at-risk children: A SMART pilot. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 45, 510-521.
Correll, C. U., & Carlson, H. E. (2006). Endocrine and metabolic adverse effects of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 771-791.
Danforth, J. S. (2016). A Flow Chart of Behavior Management Strategies for Families of Children with Co-Occurring Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Problem Behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 64-76.
Dinkmeyer, D., Dinkmeyer Jr, D., & McKay, JL. (1997). Parenting Young Children, Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Under Six. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service. 74-91.
Dosreis, S., Zito, J. M., Safer, D. J., Soeken, K. L., Mitchell, Jr., J. W., & Ellwood, L. C. (2003). Parental perceptions and satisfaction with stimulant medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 24, 155-162.
DuPaul, G., Kern, L., Volpe, R., Caskie, G., Sokol, N., Arbolino, L., . . . Pipan, M. (2013). Comparison of parent education and functional assessment-based intervention across 24 months for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. School Psychology Review, 42, 56.
Erhardt, D., & Hinshaw, S. P. (1994). Initial sociometric impressions of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comparison boys: Predictions from social behaviors and from nonbehavioral variables. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 833.
Evans, S. W., Owens, J. S., & Bunford, N. (2014). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Child &Adolescent Psychology, 43, 527-551.
Evans, S. W., Schultz, B. K., DeMars, C. E., & Davis, H. (2011). Effectiveness of the Challenging Horizons after-school program for young adolescents with ADHD. J Behavior therapy, 42, 462-474.
Fabiano, G. A., Pelham, Jr., W. E., Coles, E. K., Gnagy, E. M., Chronis- Tuscano, A., & O'Connor, B. (2009). A meta-analysis of behavioral treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 129-140.
Fabiano, G. A., Pelham, W. E., Cunningham, C. E., Yu, J., Gangloff, B., Buck, M., . . . Gera, S. (2012). A waitlist-controlled trial of behavioral parent training for fathers of children with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Child Adolescent Psychology, 41, 337-345.
Fabiano, G. A., Vujnovic, R. K., Pelham, W. E., Waschbusch, D. A., Massetti, G. M., Pariseau, M. E., . . . Carnefix, T. (2010a). Enhancing the effectiveness of special education programming for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using a daily report card. School Psychology Review, 39, 219.
Fabiano, G. A., Vujnovic, R. K., Pelham, W. E., Waschbusch, D. A., Massetti, G. M., Pariseau, M. E., . . . Carnefix, T. (2010b). Enhancing the effectiveness of special education programming for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using a daily report card. School Psychology, 39, 219-239.
Faraone, S. V., Biederman, J., & Mick, E. (2006). The age-dependent decline of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Follow-up Studies. Psychological Medicine, 36, 159-165.
Froehlich, T. E., Lanphear, B. P., Epstein, J. N., Barbaresi, W. J., Katusic, S. K., & Kahn, R. S. (2007). Prevalence, recognition, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a national sample of US children. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 161, 857-864.
Gevensleben, H., Holl, B., Albrecht, B., Schlamp, D., Kratz, O., Studer, P., . . . Heinrich, H. (2009). Distinct EEG effects related to neurofeedback training in children with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 74, 149-157.
Graham, J., Banaschewski, T., Buitelaar, J., Coghill, D., Danckaerts, M., Dittmann, R., . . . Holtmann, M. (2011). European guidelines on managing adverse effects of medication for ADHD. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 20, 17-37.
Grizenko, N., Paci, M., & Joober, R. (2010). Is the inattentive subtype of ADHD different from the combined/hyperactive subtype? Journal of Attention Disorders, 13, 649-657.
Grizenko, N., Shayan, Y. R., Polotskaia, A., Ter-Stepanian, M., & Joober, R. (2008). Relation of maternal stress during pregnancy to symptom severity and response to treatment in children with ADHD. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 33, 10.
Hales, R. E. (2008). The American psychiatric publishing textbook of psychiatry. American Psychiatric Pub.
Harpin, V. A. (2005). The effect of ADHD on the life of an individual, their family, and community from preschool to adult life. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 90(suppl 1), i2-i7.
Hunt, R. D., Arnsten, A. F., & Asbell, M. D. (1995). An open trial of guanfacine in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 50-54.
Jans, T., Jacob, C., Warnke, A., Zwanzger, U., Groß‐Lesch, S., Matthies, S., . . . Rösler, M. (2015). Does intensive multimodal treatment for maternal ADHD improve the efficacy of parent training for children with ADHD? A randomized controlled multicenter trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56, 1298-1313.
Jensen, P. S. (1999). A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 1073-1086.
Jensen, P. S., Martin, D., & Cantwell, D. P. (1997). Comorbidity in ADHD: Implications for research, practice, and DSM-V. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1065-1079.
Johnson, M., Östlund, S., Fransson, G., Kadesjö, B., & Gillberg, C. (2009). Omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial in children and adolescents. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12, 394-401.
Kanarek, R. B. (1994). Does sucrose or aspartame cause hyperactivity in children? Nutrition reviews, 52, 173-175.
Kazdin, A. E. (2008). Parent management training: Treatment for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Demler, O., . . . Secnik, K. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. American Journal of psychiatry, 163, 716-723.
Kim, J. W., Park, K. H., & Choi, M. J. (2004). Screening for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in community mental health services for children. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 43, 200-208.
Knouse, L. E., Cooper-Vince, C., Sprich, S., & Safren, S. A. (2008). Recent developments in the psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 8, 1537-1548.
Konofal, E., Lecendreux, M., Deron, J., Marchand, M., Cortese, S., Zaïm, M., . . . Arnulf, I. (2008). Effects of iron supplementation on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Pediatric Neurology, 38, 20-26.
Langberg, J. M., Arnold, L. E., Flowers, A. M., Epstein, J. N., Altaye, M., Hinshaw, S. P., . . . Hechtman, L. (2010). Parent-reported homework problems in the MTA study: Evidence for sustained improvement with behavioral treatment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 39, 220-233.
Langberg, J. M., Epstein, J. N., Becker, S. P., Girio-Herrera, E., & Vaughn, A. J. (2012). Evaluation of the Homework, Organization, and Planning Skills (HOPS) intervention for middle school students with ADHD as implemented by school mental health providers. School Psychology Review, 41, 342-364.
Mabe, P. A., Turner, M. K., & Josephson, A. M. (2001). Parent management training. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 10, 451-464.
Maleki, Z. H., Mashhadi, A., Soltanifar, A., Moharreri, F., & Ghamanabad, A. G. (2014). Barkley’s parent training program, working memory training and their combination for children with ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Iranian journal of psychiatry, 9, 47.
Mannuzza, S., & Klein, R. G. (2000). Long-term prognosis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 9, 711-726.
McGrath, P. J., Lingley-Pottie, P., Thurston, C., MacLean, C., Cunningham, C., Waschbusch, D. A., . . . Santor, D. (2011). Telephonebased mental health interventions for child disruptive behavior or anxiety disorders: Randomized trials and overall analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50, 1162-1172.
Meyer, K., & Kelley, M. L. (2007). Improving homework in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Self vs. parent monitoring of homework behavior and study skills. J Child Family Behavior Therapy, 29, 25-42.
Mikami, A., Lerner, M., Griggs, M., McGrath, A., & Calhoun, C. (2010). Parental influence on children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: II. Results of a pilot intervention training parents as friendship coaches for children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 737-749.
Mikami, A. Y., Griggs, M. S., Lerner, M. D., Emeh, C. C., Reuland, M. M., Jack, A., & Anthony, M. R. (2013). A randomized trial of a classroom intervention to increase peers’ social inclusion of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81, 100.
Molina, B. S., Flory, K., Bukstein, O. G., Greiner, A. R., Baker, J. L., Krug, V., & Evans, S. W. (2008). Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an after-school program for middle schoolers with ADHD:A randomized trial in a large public middle school. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12, 207-217.
Mostofsky, S. H., & Simmonds, D. J. (2008). Response inhibition and response selection: two sides of the same coin. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20, 751-761.
Newcorn, J. H., Halperin, J. M., Jensen, P. S., Abikoff, H. B., Arnold, L. E., Cantwell, D. P., . . . Greenhill, L. L. (2001). Symptom profiles in children with ADHD: Effects of comorbidity and gender. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 137-146.
Nigg, J. T., Lewis, K., Edinger, T., & Falk, M. (2012). Meta-analysis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51, 86-97. e88.
Olfson, M., Marcus, S. C., Weissman, M. M., & Jensen, P. S. (2002). National trends in the use of psychotropic medications by children. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 514-521.
Park, W., Park, S., & Hwang, S. (2015). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among school-aged children in Korea: A meta-analysis. J Korean Acad Nurs, 45, 169-182.
Pelham, E. W., Fabiano, A. G., & Massetti, M. G. (2005). Evidencebased assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 449-476.
Pelham, W. E., Gnagy, E. M., Greiner, E. R., Waschbusch, D. A., Fabiano, G. A., & Burrows-Maclean, L. (2010). Summer treatment programs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In Weisz, J. R., Kazdin, A. E. (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (pp. 277-292). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.
Pelham, W. E. Jr., & Fabiano, G. A. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37, 184-214.
Pfiffner, L. J., Barkley, R., & DuPaul, G. (2006). Treatment of ADHD in school settings. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment, 3, 547-589.
Pfiffner, L. J., Mikami, A. Y., Huang-Pollock, C., Easterlin, B., Zalecki, C., & McBurnett, K. (2007). A randomized, controlled trial of integrated home-school behavioral treatment for ADHD, predominantly inattentive type. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 1041-1050.
Power, T. J., Mautone, J. A., Soffer, S. L., Clarke, A. T., Marshall, S. A., Sharman, J., . . . Jawad, A. F. (2012). A family–school intervention for children with ADHD: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology Review, 80, 611.
Price, T. S., Simonoff, E., Asherson, P., Curran, S., Kuntsi, J., Waldman, I., & Plomin, R. (2005). Continuity and change in preschool ADHD symptoms: longitudinal genetic analysis with contrast effects. Behavior Genetics, 35, 121-132.
Prince, J. B. (2006). Pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: update on new stimulant preparations, atomoxetine, and novel treatments. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 15, 13-50.
Rajwan, E., Chacko, A., Wymbs, B. T., & Wymbs, F. A. (2014). Evaluating clinically significant change in mother and child functioning:Comparison of traditional and enhanced behavioral parent training. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42, 1407-1412.
Rasmussen, P., & Gillberg, C. (2000). Natural outcome of ADHD with developmental coordination disorder at age 22 years: A controlled, longitudinal, community-based study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 1424-1431.
Rimestad, M. L., Lambek, R., Zacher Christiansen, H., & Hougaard, E. (2016). Short-and long-term effects of parent training for preschool children with or at risk of ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Attention Disorders, pii: 1087054716648775 [Epub ahead of print].
Schoenwald, S. K., Henggeler, S. W., Brondino, M. J., & Rowland, M. D. (2000). Multisystemic therapy: Monitoring treatment fidelity. Family Process, 39, 83-103.
Seo, J., & Park, W. (2010). The Meta Analysis of Trends and the Effects of Non-pharmacological Intervention for School Aged ADHD Children. J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs, 19, 117-132.
Shin, Y. M., Kim, Y. J., Kim, Y. S., Bang, S. Y., Lee, Y. H., Lee, C. S. . . . Shin, D. W. (2017). The Revised Korean Practice Parameter for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (IV)-Non-Pharmacologic Treatment. J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 28, 84-95.
Sonuga-Barke, E. J., Brandeis, D., Cortese, S., Daley, D., Ferrin, M., Holtmann, M., . . . Döpfner, M. (2013). Nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170, 275-289.
Sprich, S. E., Safren, S. A., Finkelstein, D., Remmert, J. E., & Hammerness, P. (2016). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication‐treated adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57, 1218-1226.
Steeger, C. M., Gondoli, D. M., Gibson, B. S., & Morrissey, R. A. (2016). Combined cognitive and parent training interventions for adolescents with ADHD and their mothers: A randomized controlled trial. Child Neuropsychology, 22, 394-419.
Swanson, J. M., Kraemer, H. C., Hinshaw, S. P., Arnold, L. E., Conners, C. K., Abikoff, H. B., . . . Greenhill, L. L. (2001). Clinical relevance of the primary findings of the MTA: Success rates based on severity of ADHD and ODD symptoms at the end of treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 168-179.
Tamm, L., Epstein, J. N., Peugh, J. L., Nakonezny, P. A., & Hughes, C. W. (2013). Preliminary data suggesting the efficacy of attention training for school-aged children with ADHD. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 4, 16-28.
Thompson, M. J., Laver-Bradbury, C., Ayres, M., Le Poidevin, E., Mead, S., Dodds, C., . . . Sonuga-Barke, E. J. (2009). A small-scale randomized controlled trial of the revised new forest parenting programme for preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 18, 605-616.
Van Den Hoofdakker, B. J., Van der Veen-Mulders, L., Sytema, S., Emmelkamp, P. M., Minderaa, R. B., & Nauta, M. (2007). Effectiveness of behavioral parent training for children with ADHD in routine clinical practice: A randomized controlled study. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 1263-1271.
Van der Oord, S., Ponsioen, A., Geurts, H., Brink, E. T., & Prins, P. (2014). A pilot study of the efficacy of a computerized executive functioning remediation training with game elements for children with ADHD in an outpatient setting: Outcome on parentand teacher-rated executive functioning and ADHD behavior. Journal of Attention Disorders, 18, 699-712.
Willcutt, E. G. (2012). The prevalence of DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review. Neurotherapeutics, 9, 490-499.
Xie, Y., Dixon, J. F., Yee, O. M., Zhang, J., Chen, Y. A., DeAngelo, S., . . . Schweitzer, J. B. (2013). A study on the effectiveness of videoconferencing on teaching parent training skills to parents of children with ADHD. Telemedicine and e-Health, 19, 192-199.