1
Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD
Barbara Maclure
10/03/22
2
Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD
Participants
This study’s participants will consist of 100 children (N=100) aged 4 to 6 years. This study will be
conducted in the school where the children attend the class. The main reason behind selecting the
school setting is because, in this setting, all the factors that affect work ethic, social interaction, and
behavior will be considered. To conduct this study successfully, a class will be required to have 20-
25 students, their teacher, and our professionals. All the participants will be kindergarten children
with who ADHD has been diagnosed. We will ensure that the sample size is large enough so that
we will be able to collect data that will support or dispute the research question. Using one hundred
participants surpasses the threshold; therefore, the data to be collected will have a weight to
support or dispute the research question. We will use purposeful sampling criteria to find one
hundred students in the grade kindergarten aged 4-6 years. In qualitative research, it is essential to
use purposeful sampling to get valuable data despite the limited resources. The children’s choice
will be based on pediatrician evaluations and diagnosis of ADHD. To get the participant, it will be
ensured that they have not gone a treatment therapy before the start of the study. This is to facilitate
the participant to be chosen randomly between methylphenidate treatment and behavioral therapy.
The study will ensure that the parent consent of the children is taken. The participant will involve
males and females.
Measures
In this study, the best research design is using qualitative experimental research. The main feature
of experimental design is selecting the participant randomly; therefore, the research has a
maximum control level. In much research for identifying a relationship between two or more
3
variables, they embrace experimental research. This research amicably compares two or more
groups. Experimental research consists of both of experimental group and the control group. This
experimental group will consist of the children undergoing medication or behavioral therapy; on
the other hand, a control group entails children undergoing Methylphenidate. The experimental
group gives an independent variable of behavioral therapy. The research will relate behavior
therapy’s effects symptoms of ADHD and the effect of Methylphenidate therapy on the same
symptoms.
Extraneous Variables
Many variables must be examined and recorded in observing and recording various issues related
to ADHD children. No factors present in the children’s classroom that may not have an indirect
influence on the children’s behaviors yet are not related to the ADHD symptoms. The presence of
distractibility and peer influence are some of the core aspects that are likely to influence children’s
behaviors. The children can also be affected by the underlying situation related to ADHD and the
comorbidities resulting from ADHD. Some of these variables cannot be fully monitored but can be
closely checked concerning the study.
Instrument
The instrument used in this study to determine whether behavioral therapy is effective in
Comparison to Methylphenidate therapy in treatment of ADHD is a numerical rating scale.
Specifically, the study’s scale will be the Children’s Attentions deficit Evaluation scale. This scale
was developed by different researchers that used the current literature in neurology, psychology,
and education in modern practices of identifying other individuals’ diagnoses. (Buyx, 2019). The
reliability of this scale is much dependent on the participant’s faithfulness, but the validity of scale
studies is so promising.
4
Using this scale in the schools and homes version plays an essential role in documentation of
ADHD features in schools and home settings of children aged 2-6 years. In most instances, the
ADHD scales is constructed for children’s symptoms who are older; thus, this scale will be used as
it evaluates the targeted age of the study. To some extent, this scale will be unique as it will enable
both parents and teachers to participate in the ADHD symptoms present in the numerical scale.
This scale will be part of the pre-diagnosis for ADHD and the accomplishing the research of the
parents and teachers with a repetition of a questionnaire. This will enable the comparisons of the
child questionnaire before behavioral and Methylphenidate therapy and provide answers if a
reduction of symptoms is noted concerning the administered treatment.
Intervention Description
Based on CDC, behavioral therapy is the first line of treatment for children under six years and
having been diagnosed with ADHD is behavioral therapy. Behavioral medicine is essential in
monitoring any negative behaviors resulting from ADHD. The principle used by behavioral
therapy is that the behaviors are usually learned, and destructive behaviors can be modified.
Psychologists can assist parents and children in focusing on the negative behaviors that arise from
ADHD and the role to play in changing those behaviors. Some forms of behavioral therapy entail
cognitive behavioral, aversion therapy, cognitive behavioral, and system desensitization. When
working with both the children and the parents, the therapist can use on-form therapy or combine
multiple of them based on their effectiveness
Data Collection Procedure
This study’s participants will be based on the recommendation of pediatricians. The participant will
involve children aged 4 to 6 years diagnosed with ADHD who have yet to start the treatment.
Before the participant’s placement, it will be ensured that the parent’s consent is obtained. Once the
5
recommendation is made, and the parent signs the consent, the research will go to IRB to seek
approval. The researcher will search the group using random means. Once the IRB verifies the
approval, the participant will be grouped into two. Group A acts as control group, and group B acts
as treatment group.
1. Group A
a. There will be the prescription of the methylphenidate dosage of the participant by the
Physicians
b. The participant will be required to take Methylphenidate dosage every morning at 7 am
before school. They will be taking the dosage at the same time
c. It will be ensured that all the participants do not miss the dosage of medication
d. All side effects of Methylphenidate will be closely monitored
2. Group B
a. In two months, the participant and parents will undergo eight behavioral therapy sessions
with a well-trained psychologist.
b. The teachers and parents will provide the positive behaviors identified
c. The teachers and the parents will be required to have similar behavioral systems in the
classroom and at home to have a consistency of participants.
d. It will ensure that the participant has a consistent discipline band adequate structure.
Data Analysis
The research will be conducted in different demographics to have diverse participant groups.
Male and females will be included in the study aged 4-6 years. The study will ensure that the
participants are from different ethnic groups having the fulfillment of being diagnosed with
6
ADHD yet not started the treatment. Descriptive studies will be implemented to analyze the
demographic, as shown IN the table below.
Race Age Gender Grade
Central Tendency
Mean
median
Mode
Standard Deviation
Distribution
Variance
Dispersion
In the analysis, ADHD symptoms score will be determined by ACADDES educators and
parent questionnaires. The questionnaire will use a scale that ranges from 0 to 4. Zero indicates
no sign of ADHD, and four exhibits ADHD behavior. The trial participants in the two available
groups’ scores will be done before that treatment when completion of the trial process is done.
The analysis is supposed to run through ECADDES computer system that will convert scores
from raw to standards and percentiles, thus making the score to be more efficient. The
descriptive statistics will consist of standard deviation, Variance and inference methods will be
a t-test used to analyze data collected from the questionnaire. Comparison will be made in both
groups to examine whether experimental group participants in the behavior therapy outcomes
differed from the stimulant Methylphenidate control group.
7
Results
The study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the treatment symptoms of ADHD
between behavioral and Methylphenidate therapy. This research was guided by the hypothesis
that stated non-pharmacology therapy is an appropriate therapy for ADHD compared to
Methylphenidate stimulant therapy for children aged 4-6 years. Based on the literature review,
we can predict the real expectation of the results. For example, the CDC’s study in 2018
indicated that less than 50 % of the children practicing stimulant therapy had initially practiced
behavioral therapy. Of the children aged between 4-5 years, only one out of five was taking the
medication to treat ADHD instead of recommending the use of behavioral therapy. This study
also identified variations in the use of behavioral treatment from State to State. (Thyagarajan
(2019) The study showed that all those states that opted to utilize behavioral therapy as the first
line of treatment had decreased the number of children on the stimulate therapies. Most studies
have put a lot of emphasis on combining behavioral therapy and stimulant medication. The
current research also shows that pharmacological therapy is an effective method of treatment of
the symptoms.
The figure below shows the expected results of the side effects of the different therapies.
8
1
2
3
4
5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Group A
Group B
Comparison of the Two Groups
Group A Group B
This indicates that the method B score is higher than A, thus more effective in treating ADHD.
Discussion
Ethical Issues
In conducting any research, there are incidences of ethical issues to arise, especially when
using minor children. When performing the study involving children, it is essential to identify
what the targeted population will benefit from the research. The central issue that requires to be
addressed is whether the investigation will bring harm to children. (Freitag & Buyx (2019). In
this research, the participant in the control group will receive Methylphenidate therapy which
cannot endanger the participant or put them at risk from the medication. The parents will be
well informed of the side effect through consent, and if the side effects arise, the pediatrician
will check the patient. Despite the research being conducted in a school setting, it will be
ensured that confidentiality and privacy will remain intact. The researcher will not require to
expose the information on the progress of the teachers who is part of the evaluation process.
Limitation of the study
9
The environment in which the research is conducted may become prone to biased results. The
classroom environment may be subject to high stimulation from the children. It may be a rise
in distractions that may result in poor results during the evaluation process. In addition, the
person collecting the data may affect the performance. The teacher may score the students
differently basing the criteria used, while the parents see them differently. The teacher and the
parents can skew the score since they know the initial performance. To provide a resolution to
this, it is essential to ensure that the participants are taken to classrooms where they are not
familiar with their teachers.
10
References
Shellenberg, Stoops, Lile & Rush (2020). An update on the clinical pharmacology of
Methylphenidate: therapeutic efficacy, abuse potential, and future considerations. Expert
Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 13(8), 827.
Jayamaha, Perera, Herath & Rodrigo (2018). A cross-sectional survey of adherence, perceived
efficacy, and side effects of Methylphenidate among children at a teaching hospital in Sri
Lanka.
Masi, Fantozzi, Villafranca, Tacchi, Ricci, Ruglioni & Cortese (2019). Effects of melatonin in
children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with sleep disorders after
methylphenidate treatment. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 15, 663.
Sierawska, Prehn-Kristensen, Moliadze, Krauel, Nowak, Freitag & Buyx (2019). Unmet needs in
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—can transcranial direct current
stimulation fill the gap? Promises and ethical challenges. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 334.
Ghasemi, Nori & Abdi Zarrin (2019). The effect of parent management training (PMT) on the
reduction of behavioral symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). Quarterly Journal of Child Mental Health, 6(2), 9.
Bussalb, Congedo, Barthélemy, Ojeda, Acquaviva, E., Delorme & Mayaud (2019). Clinical and
experimental factors were influencing the efficacy of neurofeedback in ADHD: a metaanalysis. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 35.
