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A small-scale randomized controlled trial of the self-help version of the New Forest Parent Training Programme for children with ADHD symptoms

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Abstract

The efficacy of a self-help parent training programme for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was evaluated. The New Forest Parenting Programme Self-help (NFPP-SH) is a 6-week written self-help psychological intervention designed to treat childhood ADHD. Forty-three children were randomised to either NFPP-SH intervention or a waiting list control group. Outcomes were child ADHD symptoms measured using questionnaires and direct observation, self-reported parental mental health, parenting competence, and the quality of parent–child interaction. Measures of child symptoms and parental outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. ADHD symptoms were reduced, and parental competence was increased by self-help intervention. Forty-five percent of intervention children showed clinically significant reductions in ADHD symptoms. Self-help intervention did not lead to improvements in parental mental health or parent–child interaction. Findings provide support for the efficacy of self-help intervention for a clinical sample of children with ADHD symptoms. Self-help may provide a potentially cost-effective method of increasing access to evidence-based interventions for clinical populations.

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Conflict of interest

The authors would like to declare a potential conflict of interest. Professor Daley is a co-author of the published self-help book, which has been tested in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychiatry, School of Community Health Science, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road, Nottingham, NG7 2TU, UK

    David Daley

  2. School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS, UK

    Michelle O’Brien

  3. Centre for ADHD and Neuro-developmental Disorders Across the Life Span (CANDAL), Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, E Floor, South Block, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    David Daley

Authors
  1. David Daley
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  2. Michelle O’Brien
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Correspondence to David Daley.

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Daley, D., O’Brien, M. A small-scale randomized controlled trial of the self-help version of the New Forest Parent Training Programme for children with ADHD symptoms. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 22, 543–552 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-013-0396-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-013-0396-8

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