Innovations in Practice: Adapting a specialized ADHD parenting programme for use with 'hard to reach' and 'difficult to treat' preschool children

Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2015 Sep;20(3):175-178. doi: 10.1111/camh.12069. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Abstract

Background: Effective implementation of parent training programmes for preschool Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder type is constrained by barriers limiting take-up and effective engagement by 'hard to reach' and 'difficult to treat' families.

Method: We describe an evidence-driven adaptation and piloting of an existing empirically supported preschool ADHD parenting programme to address these problems.

Results: The New Forest Parenting programme was changed substantially in terms of length; content and delivery on the basis of information gathered from the literature, from parents and practitioners, further modifications were made after the pilot study.

Conclusions: The adapted-NFPP is currently being assessed for efficacy in a large multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Keywords: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Parent training; new forest parenting programme; preschool children; treatment barriers.