Effectiveness of Family-Based Behavioral Treatment Based on Medication Behavior Barkley Compared with Drug Therapy in Reducing the Symptoms of Children with Attention Deficit Disorder-Hyperactivity

Abstract

Children with attention deficit and hyper activity disorder have various problems such as low academic performance, social and communication problems, anxiety, depression, aggression, conduct disorder and delinquency, and also when they become adults, they have problems in social relationships that these problems can increase or decrease in dealing with family. Hence, this study was performed in order to examine the impact of family-based behavioral treatment compared with Barkley behavior therapy in reducing symptoms of children with attention deficit disorder—ADHD. To meet the aim, 20 of children with age range of 7 to 12 years old with attention deficit disorder—hyperactivity were selected in both experimental and control groups, and exposed to the treatment of behavioral family therapy groups and changes in behavior Barkley. Before and after the treatment, they were evaluated according to the scale of the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form (CPRS-R: S). Results of multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that there were significant differences between the experimental group who had received family-based behavioral treatments based on changes in behavior Barkley and a control group who had received drug treatment in variables, including conduct problems, learning problems, psychosomatic symptoms, and signs of impulsive hyperactivity, anxiety and hyperactivity (p < 0.01). These results could be guidance for counsel or sand therapists for children with attention deficit disorder—ADHD.