Digital Commons Network^™

Academic, Interpersonal, Recreational, And Family Impairment In Children With Tourette Syndrome And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Emily J. Ricketts, Sara Beth Wolicki, Melissa L. Danielson, Michelle Rozenman, Joseph F. Mcguire, John Piacentini, Jonathan W. Mink, John T. Walkup, Douglas W. Woods, Rebecca H. Bitsko

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study describes impairment in academic, interpersonal, recreational, and family financial or occupational domains across children in three mutually exclusive diagnostic groups: ever diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and both disorders. In 2014, parents reported on impairment and diagnostic status of children aged 4–17 years (n = 3014). Weighted analysis and pairwise t-tests showed more children with ADHD (with or without TS) experienced impairment in overall school performance, writing, and mathematics, relative to children with TS but not ADHD. More children with TS and ADHD had problematic handwriting relative to children with ADHD but not TS. More …

Teachers’ Impact On Psychosocial Treatment For Latinx Youth With Adhd, Margaret Grace, Theresa Lauer Kapke, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the impact of teacher engagement in a psychosocial treatment for Latinx youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results revealed that teachers were equally engaged in treatment regardless of the source of the referral to treatment, indicating that teachers were motivated to work with students and families. Additionally, results indicated that referral source and teacher engagement in treatment were related to treatment outcomes. These findings indicate that higher-quality teacher intervention implementation is related to enhanced child and parent treatment outcomes in a Latinx sample. Results additionally revealed significant relationships among parental acculturation and treatment outcomes. Clinical implications are discussed.

Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Outcomes Of A Culturally Adapted Evidence-Based Treatment For Latino Youth With Adhd, Alyson C. Gerdes, Theresa Lauer Kapke, Margaret Grace, Al Castro

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To advance our knowledge about the most effective way to treat Latino youth with ADHD, the current feasibility and pilot study compared a culturally adapted evidence-based treatment (CAT) for ADHD to standard evidence-based treatment (EBT). Method: Following a comprehensive ADHD assessment, 61 Latino families of school-aged children (mean age of 8 years) were randomly assigned to either CAT or standard EBT (i.e., parent management training). Results: CAT outperformed standard EBT when examining homework completion and mother-reported treatment satisfaction. Apart from two trends favoring CAT, CAT and EBT both resulted in significant improvements in parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptoms and …

Family Functioning In Latinx Families Of Children With Adhd: The Role Of Parental Gender And Acculturation, Anne Malkoff, Margaret Grace, Theresa Lauer Kapke, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives:

It has been well-established that parents of children with ADHD report significantly higher levels of parenting stress and home chaos, and lower levels of parental efficacy than parents of children without ADHD. Unfortunately, most of the extant ADHD literature has focused on European American children and families, resulting in a paucity of research focusing on ethnic minority families of children with ADHD. The current study aimed to expand what is known about Latinx parents of children with ADHD by exploring contextual and cultural factors, such as parental gender and acculturation, which may account for variations in parenting experiences within …

Examining Latino Family Participation In Treatment For Childhood Adhd: The Role Of Parental Cultural Factors And Perceptions, Theresa Lauer Kapke, Margaret A. Grace, Al Castro, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder in childhood. Unfortunately, Latino youth and their families are at increased risk of demonstrating poor treatment outcomes. The current study examined the impact of parental cultural factors and perceptions on Latino family participation in a psychosocial intervention for childhood ADHD. Sixty-one Latino youth and at least one of their primary parents and teachers participated in the current study. Results indicated that parental acculturation, attitudes regarding treatment, and baseline severity of child symptomatology and functional impairment were related to treatment participation outcomes. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Neurocognitive Correlates Of Treatment Response In Children With Tourette's Disorder, Susanna W. Chang, Joseph F. Mcguire, John T. Walkup, Douglas W. Woods, Lawrence Scahill, Sabine Wilhelm, Alan L. Peterson, James Dziura, John Piacentini

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This paper examined neurocognitive functioning and its relationship to behavior treatment response among youth with Tourette's Disorder (TD) in a large randomized controlled trial. Participants diagnosed with TD completed a brief neurocognitive battery assessing inhibitory functions, working memory, and habit learning pre- and post-treatment with behavior therapy (CBIT, Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) or psychoeducation plus supportive therapy (PST). At baseline, youth with tics and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibited some evidence of impaired working memory and simple motor inhibition relative to youth with tics without ADHD. Additionally, a small negative association was found between antipsychotic medications and youth's …

Understanding And Measuring Functional Impairment In Diverse Children With Adhd: Development Of The Adhd-Fx Scale With An At-Risk, Community Sample, Lauren M. Haack, Alyson C. Gerdes, Kathryn E. Lawton, Brian W. Schneider

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Peer Relationships And Friendships In Youth With Adhd, Denise M. Gardner, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: The purpose of this essay is to examine peer relationships in youth with ADHD and to review current peer functioning interventions.

Method: The studies included in this review were identified using the following search terms: “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,” “ADHD,” “peer relationships,” “friendships,” “social skills,” “intervention,” and “treatment.” Other than a few seminal studies published prior to 2000, studies included were published between 2000 and 2012.

Results/Discussion: Background information regarding peer relationship difficulties and specific social skills deficits of youth with ADHD is reviewed and current social skills and friendship intervention programs are examined. Future directions also are provided.

Examination Of A Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program For Adolescents With Adhd, Denise M. Gardner, Alyson C. Gerdes, Kelsey Ann Weinberger

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: Youth with ADHD experience significant impairment in peer functioning. Based on recommendations from the literature, the current pilot study examined the effectiveness of a parent-assisted, friendship-building program at establishing mutual friendships and improving peer relationships in adolescents with ADHD. Method: Participants included 20 adolescents with ADHD (ages 11-16 years) and their parent(s). Families completed the Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS). Measures of friendship quality, social knowledge, social self-efficacy, get-togethers, and peer conflict were completed at baseline and post-treatment. At post-treatment, participants also reported on the initiation of a new friendship. Results: Baseline to post-treatment …

Maternal Functioning Differences Based On Adhd Subtype, Kelsey Ann Weinberger, Denise M. Gardner, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: Maternal functioning differences in parenting stress, parental efficacy, and parenting behaviors were examined for mothers of children with ADHD. Method: Participants included 29 mothers of children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I) and 38 mothers of children with ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined Type (ADHD-HI/C). Results: Findings suggest that mothers of children with ADHD-HI/C reported significantly greater parenting stress and engaged in more negative parenting behaviors than mothers of children with ADHD-I. Conclusion: This study suggests that tailoring behavioral parent training based on ADHD subtype may be particularly helpful for parents of children with ADHD-HI/C.

Peer Rejection And Friendships In Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Contributions To Long-Term Outcomes, Sylvie Mrug, Brooke S. G. Molina, Betsy Hoza, Alyson C. Gerdes, Stephen P. Hinshaw, Lily Hechtman, L. Eugene Arnold

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Even after evidence-based treatment, Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with poor long-term outcomes. These outcomes may be partly explained by difficulties in peer functioning, which are common among children with ADHD and which do not respond optimally to standard ADHD treatments. We examined whether peer rejection and lack of dyadic friendships experienced by children with ADHD after treatment contribute to long-term emotional and behavioral problems and global impairment, and whether having a reciprocal friend buffers the negative effects of peer rejection. Children with Combined type ADHD (N0300) enrolled in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) were …

Parental Functioning In Families For Behavioral Parent Training And Importance Of Clinically Meaningful Change, Alyson C. Gerdes, Lauren M. Haack, Brian W. Schneider

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective/Method: Statistically significant and clinically meaningful effects of behavioral parent training on parental functioning were examined for 20 children with ADHD and their parents who had successfully completed a psychosocial treatment for ADHD.

Results/Conclusion: Findings suggest that behavioral parent training resulted in statistically significant improvements in some domains of parenting behavior for both mothers and fathers and in reductions in most domains of parenting stress for mothers. Importantly, clinically meaningful change also was noted for these parental functioning areas, as well as for other domains of parental functioning that did not result in statistically significant findings. Clinical implications …

Advancing Our Knowledge Of Adhd In Latino Children: Psychometric And Cultural Properties Of Spanish-Versions Of Parental/Family Functioning Measures, Lauren M. Haack, Alyson C. Gerdes, Brian W. Schneider, Gabriela Dieguez Hurtado

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The lack of available Spanish versions of assessment measures contributes to insufficient research and underutilization of mental health services for Latino children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thus, the goal of the current study was to examine the psychometric and cultural properties of several Spanish versions of parental/family functioning measures commonly used in comprehensive ADHD assessments (i.e., the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale). Participants included 68 Spanish-speaking, Latino parents in Southeast Wisconsin. In general, the Spanish translations of the measures demonstrated good reliability and validity. Furthermore, the psychometrically-sound measures were significantly related …