title: Anthroposophic therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity: a two-year prospective study in outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anthroposophic treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes special artistic and physical therapies and special medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 61 consecutive children starting anthroposophic treatment for ADHD symptoms under routine outpatient conditions. Primary outcome was FBB-HKS (a parents' questionnaire for ADHD core symptoms, 0-3), and secondary outcomes were disease and symptom scores (physicians' and parents' assessment, 0-10) and quality of life (KINDL(®) total score, 0-100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 67% of patients fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD, 15% had an exclusion diagnosis such as pervasive developmental disorders, while 18% did not fulfill ADHD criteria for another reason. Anthroposophic treatment modalities used were eurythmy therapy (in 56% of patients), art therapy (20%), rhythmical massage therapy (8%), and medications (51%). From baseline to six-month follow-up, all outcomes improved significantly; average improvements were FBB-HKS total score 0.30 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18-0.43; P < 0.001), FBB-HKS inattention 0.36 (95% CI: 0.21-0.50; P < 0.001), FBB-HKS hyperactivity 0.29 (95% CI: 0.14-0.44; P < 0.001), FBB-HKS impulsivity 0.22 (95% CI: 0.03-0.40; P < 0.001), disease score 2.33 (95% CI: 1.84-2.82; P < 0.001), symptom score 1.66 (95% CI: 1.17-2.16; P < 0.001), and KINDL 5.37 (95% CI: 2.27-8.47; P = 0.001). Improvements were similar in patients not using stimulants (90% of patients at months 0-6) and were maintained until last follow-up after 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with ADHD symptoms receiving anthroposophic treatment had long-term improvement of symptoms and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, Freiburg, Germany;
authors.forename: Harald J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hamre
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: Gunver S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kienle
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meinecke
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glockmann
authors.forename: Renatus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Stefan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Willich
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiene