The effect of behavioral parent training on sleep problems of school-age children with ADHD: A parallel randomized controlled trial

Mahboobeh Mehri; Minoo Mitra Chehrzad; Abbas Mardani; Maryam Maleki; Mostafa Dianatinasab; Maryam Kousha; Shervin Assari

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2020.04.001

The effect of behavioral parent training on sleep problems of school-age children with ADHD: A parallel randomized controlled trial

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2020 Aug;34(4):261-267. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2020.04.001. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Authors

Mahboobeh Mehri¹, Minoo Mitra Chehrzad², Abbas Mardani³, Maryam Maleki⁴, Mostafa Dianatinasab⁵, Maryam Kousha⁶, Shervin Assari⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatric Nursing, Shafa Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
² Department of Paediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
³ Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran. Electronic address: maleki@shmu.ac.ir.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology, Center for Health Related Social and Behavioral Sciences Research, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Shafa Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
⁷ Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

PMID: 32828358
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2020.04.001

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of behavioral parental training (BPT) on sleep problems in children diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods: This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in a psychiatric clinic in an urban area of Iran. Participants of this study were 58 school-age children who were diagnosed with ADHD, were receiving methylphenidate and had at least one problem in sleeping. They were randomly assigned into BPT or control groups. Participants' parents in the BPT group underwent a 5-week behavioral intervention program. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent sample t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA test via the SPSS software.

Results: Children in the intervention group experienced a significant improvement in total sleep scores two months after the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.03). Also, the findings showed a significant decline in total sleep problems in the intervention group compared to the control group over time (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: The results suggest that BPT could be an effective method in improving sleep problems of school-age children diagnosed with ADHD undergoing methylphenidate treatment.

Keywords: ADHD; Behavioral intervention; Behavioral parent training; Methylphenidate; School-age children.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy
Behavior Therapy*
Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use
Child
Female
Humans
Iran
Male
Methylphenidate / therapeutic use
Parents / education*
Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
Students / statistics & numerical data

Substances

Central Nervous System Stimulants
Methylphenidate