Efficacy of the Incredible Years Programme as an early intervention for children with conduct problems and ADHD: long-term follow-up.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the long-term efficacy of the Incredible Years (IY) BASIC Parenting Programme delivered as a preventive intervention with parents of pre-school children who display signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct problems. Families were followed up after the completion of a controlled trial with 11 Sure Start areas in North and Mid-Wales and North West England.


METHODS
Participants in the study were 50 pre-school children whose parents had received the intervention. Child ADHD symptoms were assessed at baseline, at follow-up one (6 months after baseline); at follow-up two (12 months after baseline); and at follow-up three (18 months after baseline). Families in the original waiting-list control group were not assessed after follow-up one as they had subsequently received the same intervention.


RESULTS
The significant post-intervention improvements in child ADHD symptoms evident at follow-up one were maintained over time, as demonstrated by statistical and clinical stability of measures. No significant differences were found for ADHD symptoms across each follow-up, indicating that the gains made post intervention were maintained for at least 12 months, with 57% of the sample maintaining scores below the clinical cut-off on the Conners. Eighty-six, 58, and 30 per cent respectively had maintained at least a modest, large, or very large improvement in ADHD symptoms at follow-up three.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study suggest that the IY psychosocial treatment programme is a valuable intervention in the longer term for many pre-school children displaying early signs of ADHD.
Jones
K
K
School of Psychology, University of Wales, Bangor, UK.
Daley
D
D
Hutchings
J
J
Bywater
T
T
Eames
C
C
D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom