Comparison of the Effectiveness of Filial Therapy and Barkley's Parent Training Program in Reducing the Symptoms of Anxiety and ADHD in Children

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of filial therapy and Barkley's Parent Training Program in reducing symptoms of anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aging 7-12 years. This was a quasi-experimental study with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of 7-12-year-old children with ADHD who lived in District 4 of Isfahan, Iran. From among them, 45 were chosen after interviews and randomly divided into 3 groups (15 each). Research instruments included Savary’s ADHD questionnaire and Reynolds and Richmond's Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results showed that both methods were effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and ADHD in children, but no significant difference was observed between the two, as also confirmed by paired comparisons. Filial therapy and Barkley's Parent Training Program can be used as complementary treatment for anxiety and ADHD.