Efficacy of the Incredible Years Basic parent training programme as an early intervention for children with conduct problems and ADHD

Child Care Health Dev. 2007 Nov;33(6):749-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00747.x.

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of the Incredible Years (IY) Basic parent training (PT) programme for a community-based sample of families with pre-school children at risk of developing both conduct problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was examined.

Methods: Pre-school children displaying signs of both early-onset conduct problems and ADHD were randomly allocated to either IY PT intervention, or to a waiting list (WL) control group. Child symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results: Post intervention, the intervention group was associated with significantly lower levels of parent-reported inattention and hyperactive/impulsive difficulties, even after controlling for post-intervention changes in child deviance. In addition, 52% of those in the intervention condition, compared with 21% in the control condition, displayed clinically reliable improvements post intervention, giving an absolute risk reduction of 31% and a number needed to treat of 3.23.

Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that the IY PT programme is a valuable intervention for many pre-school children displaying early signs of ADHD.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Assertiveness
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy*
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / therapy*
  • Behavior Therapy*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Early Intervention, Educational* / methods
  • Early Intervention, Educational* / organization & administration
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parents
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Treatment Outcome