Effectiveness of child-parent relation therapy on the symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract: One of the most common childhood disorders that have attracted the attention of psychology and psychiatry is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because of the problems and the negative consequences resulting from it، psychologists، psychiatrists and experts in the field of education have tried to treat this disorder. The present study was performed to study the effects of child-parent relation therapy on symptoms of ADHD among male elementary school students in Sanandaj city. The research method was an experimental study، including pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group. The research instrument used in this study was Conners Parent Rating of Childhood Behavior Problems (CPRCBP). From all the students who were referred to a psychological center، 36 male students were selected from elementary schools in Sanandaj، and were assigned to two groups: experimental and control (18 students each). Before starting the training، pretest was administered to the two groups. Then، the experimental group was exposed to child-parent relation therapy. At the end of training sessions، post-test، and one month later follow up test was administrated to groups. The results showed that child-parent relation therapy has decreased significantly the symptoms of ADHD in posttest and follow-up. Also، child-parent relation therapy has decreased significantly the attention deficit and hyperactivity subscales. The results indicated that child-parent relation therapy is significantly effective in decreasing symptoms of ADHD. Applying this method is recommended by the psychologists، counselors and psychiatrics.