Effects of information on perceptions of stimulant medication efficacy for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Children's self-reports on perceived effects on taking stimulant medication for ADHD

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates children's views on positive and negative effects of stimulant medication for ADHD and the children's willingness to stop taking medication.

METHOD

Questionnaire data were collected from 79 children with ADHD and one of each child's parents.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION

Swedish children treated with stimulants generally experienced positive treatment effects in many areas, especially in the school setting, and a majority wished to continue taking their medication. There was, however, a small group of children who reported a relatively large number of negative effects. Few differences between parents and children were found for positive effects, although parents reported higher levels of negative effects. Results also indicate that the child's knowledge of why he or she is on stimulant medication and the parent's views of medication are important factors to take into consideration as they influence the child's willingness to continue his or her medication.

Self-administered psychosocial treatments for children and families

Self-administered psychosocial treatments for child health problems have the potential to circumvent barriers to traditional models of care. They are convenient and inexpensive to families and, for some types of problems, may be as effective as therapist-based care. In a review of past research on child- and parent-facilitated self-administered treatments, it was found that a stronger evidence base exists in support of some formats (manual- and multimedia-based treatments) than for others (inspirational literature and support groups). The practical, ethical, and legal issues associated with self-administered treatments are discussed as well as avenues for future research. How psychologists and health care systems respond to the opportunities associated with self-administered treatments for children will likely affect the face of the profession and the health of children in the future.