Social acceptability of methylphenidate and behavior modification for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The social acceptability of methylphenidate, behavior modification, and methylphenidate plus behavior modification was evaluated. Fifty mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 50 control mothers, along with 21 children with ADHD and 20 control children, read a case vignette of an 8-year-old boy with ADHD and descriptions of the three treatment conditions. Subjects then rated the acceptability of each treatment. The mothers of children with ADHD were reassessed 3.5 months later, after experience with interventions for their children. Both ADHD and control families rated behavior modification as the most acceptable, methylphenidate as least acceptable, and the combined condition intermediate between the other two. At follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the acceptability of methylphenidate and the combined condition. The increased acceptability of methylphenidate at follow-up was related to increases in parents' knowledge about ADHD but not to the significant improvements that occurred in the children's hyperactive behavior.
Liu
C
C
Psychology Division, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit 48201.
Robin
A L
AL
Brenner
S
S
Eastman
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D001290:Attitude; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012917:Social Adjustment
D008774:Methylphenidate