Parent training for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: is it as effective when delivered as routine rather than as specialist care?
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness of parent training (PT) when delivered as part of specialist tier-two services for preschool AD/HD children has been recently demonstrated.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of the same PT programme when delivered as part of routine primary care by non-specialist nurses.


METHODS
A sample of 89 3-year-old children with preschool AD/HD took part in a controlled trial of an eight-week (one hour a week), health visitor delivered, PT package. Children, allocated randomly to PT (n = 59) and waiting list control (WLC; n = 30) groups, were compared.


RESULTS
PT did not reduce AD/HD symptoms. Maternal well-being decreased in both PT and WLC groups.


CONCLUSIONS
While PT is an effective intervention for preschool AD/HD when delivered in specialized settings, these benefits do not appear to generalize when programme are delivered as part of routine primary care by non-specialist nurses.
Sonuga-Barke
Edmund J S
EJ
Developmental Brain Behaviour Unit, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK. ejb3@soton.ac.uk
Thompson
Margaret
M
Daley
David
D
Laver-Bradbury
Cathy
C
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009732:Nursing Care; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome