A controlled trial of working memory training for children and adolescents with ADHD.
This study assessed the efficacy of a 5-week, intensive working memory training program for 52 children and adolescents (ages 7-17) who had Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other comorbid diagnoses. This study provided a treatment replication since the waitlist control group also completed training and was included in the follow-up data analyses. Parents and teachers completed paper-and-pencil measures of working memory, executive functioning, and ADHD symptoms at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up. Parent ratings indicated that participants improved on inattention, overall number of ADHD symptoms, initiation, planning/organization, and working memory. Teacher ratings approached significance at posttreatment and at 4-month follow-up on and Initiate scale. Working memory training appears promising as an intervention in improving executive functioning and ADHD symptoms.
Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-2951, USA. beck.5@osu.edu
Steven J
SJ
Beck
Christine A
CA
Hanson
Synthia S
SS
Puffenberger
Kristen L
KL
Benninger
William B
WB
Benninger
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D056344:Executive Function; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010290:Parents; D013028:Space Perception; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014796:Visual Perception