High versus Low Intensity Summer Treatment for ADHD Delivered at Secondary School Transitions. Issue 2 (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sibley, Margaret H.; Coxe, Stefany J.; Campez, Mileini; Morley, Candance; Olson, Sandra; Hidalgo-Gato, Nick; Gnagy, Elizabeth; Greiner, Andrew; Coles, Erika K.; Page, Timothy; Pelham, William E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Volume 47:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 248
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent Psychology -- Periodicals; Child Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Clinical -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry; Adolescent psychology; Child psychiatry; Child psychology; Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2018.1426005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-4416

Abstract

Abstract : Spikes in symptom severity are noted for adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the transitions to middle and high school that are attributed to developmental maladjustment. This study evaluated the effectiveness of high-intensity (HI; 412 hr, $4, 373 per participant) versus low-intensity (LI; 24 hr, $97 per participant) skills-based summer intervention delivered to adolescents with ADHD by local school district staff. Participants were 325 ethnically diverse rising sixth and ninth graders with ADHD randomized to HI versus LI ( n = 218) or recruited into an untreated comparison group ( n = 107). Group × Time 1-year outcome trajectories were compared using linear mixed models. Both interventions possessed high fidelity and were viewed by families as enjoyable and beneficial. Youth attendance was higher for HI (~80%) versus LI (~45%). Parent training attendance was uniform across groups (~50%). Parent and student attendance did not impact trajectories. Primary benefits of HI over LI were to note taking ( d = .50), parent contingency management ( d = .43), and parent-rated ADHD symptoms ( d = .40–.46; ninth grade only). Secondary analyses suggested that HI may produce additional benefits compared to no treatment for home organization skills (HI vs. untreated d = .54), parent–teen conflict (HI vs. untreated d = .39), and grade point average (HI vs. untreated d = .47, ninth grade only). Summer HI treatment was superior to LI in engagement and uptake of certain skills. However, the extent to which these medium benefits on a limited number of outcomes justify high costs compared to LI remains an open question. Delivering treatment during the summer instead of school year may limit generalizability.