Beyond symptom control for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): what can parents do to improve outcomes?

This 2015 narrative review debates whether parental interventions provide benefits for their children’s ADHD outcomes such as disruptive behavior and functioning (neuropsychological, academic, and social). Additionally, the connection between parenting and familial environments with these ADHD outcomes are explored. Thirdly, the review investigated the effects of parental depression and efficacy on their optimal parenting capabilities. After reviewing the evidence, it appeared that parenting interventions are beneficial for not only ADHD symptoms, but also for several other outcomes. Enhancing the relationship between the parent and child may indirectly promote positive changes in disruptive behavior. Also, the behaviors of the parents were found to directly affect (in a positive way) the child’s neuropsychological, academic and social functioning. Parenting interventions can provide both the parents and children with therapeutic benefits. To better understand the diverse range of positive impacts that parental interventions can have, clinical evaluators of parenting interventions are recommended to assess a wider collection of outcomes. Parenting interventions represent a useful alternative to medication in the management of ADHD since they can be potentially utilized to target outcomes that current medications struggle to positively influence.
[NPID: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, parents, interventions, parental interventions, behavior, alternative, parenting, depression]

Year: 2015

Reference: Tarver, J., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2015). Beyond symptom control for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): what can parents do to improve outcomes?. Child: care, health and development, 41(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12159