A comparison of three family therapy programs for treating family conflicts in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract

Sixty-one 12- to 18-year-olds were randomized to 8-10 sessions of behavior management training (n = 20), problem-solving and communication training (n = 21), or structural family therapy (n = 20). Families were assessed at pre- and posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. All treatments resulted in significant reductions in negative communication, conflicts, and anger during conflicts and improved ratings of school adjustment, reduced internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and decreased maternal depressive symptoms. Most outcomes remained stable between posttreatment and follow-up, and some continued to improve over this time. Despite group improvements, analyses of clinically significant change and clinical recovery within Ss showed that only 5-30% reliably improved from treatment and only 5-20% recovered following treatment. The three treatments did not differ in these rates.