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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01320098

Parent Training for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Preschoolers

The purpose of this research is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two parenting programs in reducing the ADHD symptoms and behavioral problems of preschool children with ADHD through a controlled study. One program is a home-based parent training intervention that is designed to enhance the parent-child interaction, constructive parenting skills, and the child's tolerance for delay. The other intervention is a clinic-based parent training program that focuses on reducing noncompliance in preschool children and improving parenting skills.

Both programs consist of private weekly parenting sessions with Clinical Psychologists - once a week for 8 weeks. The sessions are 1-1.5 hours in length. Both programs use behavior modification as a means of improving oppositional and non-compliant child behavior. Both interventions also involve procedures that focus on improving children's attention.

Neither program involves medication, and all families will receive one of the two parenting programs being evaluated. Study evaluations, as well as participation in the parenting programs, are provided at no cost to families. Evaluation and parenting sessions can be scheduled at times convenient to families.

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Key information

Conditions

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Behavior Health Behavior Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

3 year–4 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

NYU Child Study Center, One Park Avenue

New York, 10016, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age = 3.0 - 4.11
  • In preschool program at least 2 half days per week
  • Meets criteria for ADHD on clinical evaluation / DISC
  • ADHD severity: > 1.5 SD above mean for age/sex on CTRS-R
  • ADHD severity: > 1.0 SD above mean for age/sex on CPRS-R

Exclusion criteria

  • Current Medication treatment for ADHD
  • IQ < 70 (Full Scale on WPPSI III)
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder
  • Psychosis
  • Severe receptive language impairment
  • Neurological Disorder
  • Significant medical disorder
  • Primary caretaker is not able to participate
  • Non-English speaking primary care taker

Treatment and study plan

Home-Based Parenting Program

Behavioral

The Home-Based Parenting Program aims to improve impulsive and oppositional behaviors in 3 and 4 year-olds. The program involves 8 home visits with a therapist. The visits focus on the skills listed below as a means of improving your child's behavior.

  • Helping you set developmentally appropriate goals for your child. One way we do this is by focusing on situations that occur naturally in your home. Another way is by having you engage in activities with your child that focus on improving attention and the ability to delay.
  • Increasing the quality and quantity of positive interactions between you and your child
  • Changing the way you respond to your child's inappropriate behaviors so as to reduce the frequency of negative interactions.
  • Improving your parenting skills. This program also includes between-session "homework tasks" so that you can practice the skills you have learned throughout the week.

Clinic-Based Parenting Program

Behavioral

The Clinic-Based Parenting Program aims to improve ADHD symptoms by reducing noncompliance, which is common in children with ADHD. Parents learn how to help their child attend to and comply with requests and directions so as to improve compliance and attention.

The program involves 8 clinic visits with a therapist. Parents learn various parenting skills to help improve their child's behaviors.

Parents learn techniques and skills to promote positive interactions with their child, including:

  • Increasing the positive attention you give to your child.
  • Reducing the inappropriate use of commands, questions and criticisms.
  • Appropriate use of praise and physical attention (e.g., hugs) as rewards.
  • Actively ignoring minor, inappropriate behaviors. Parents also learn how to: increase compliance via clear instruction; respond to compliant and noncompliant behaviors; and create and use clear rules about appropriate and inappropriate child behaviors.

Wait-List Control Group

Behavioral

If your child is randomized to the 8-week Wait-List group, you and your child will be asked to attend 2 assessment visits -1 screening/baseline visit and one 8 weeks later. These assessment visits will take place at our clinic. After completing the second assessment, you will receive your choice of either the home-based or clinic-based parenting program.

Primary outcomes

  1. Conners Teacher Rating Scale

    Time frame: Post-Treatment (within one week of the last treatment session / end of the 8 week waiting period)

    Behavior Rating Scale

Secondary outcomes

  1. Conners Parent Rating Scale

    Time frame: Post-Treatment (within one week of the last treatment session / end of the 8 week waiting period)

    Behavior Rating Scale

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Home-Based Parent Training in ADHD Preschoolers

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Mar 22, 2011
Registry last updated
Dec 8, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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