Effectiveness of Parents-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Obesity and Self-Esteem of Overweight Children with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral problems that cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, academic failure, and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool and elementary school that is often hidden from the parents' eyes. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of parent-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on ADHD symptoms (including attention deficit disorder, restlessness, and impulsivity), overweight and self-esteem of 6–11-year-old obese children with attention deficit hyperactivity in Isfahan.Materials and Methods:This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 40 children aged 6–11 years with ADHD and overweight or obesity (above the 85th percentile in weight for age, height, and sex diagram) that their parents referred to Isfahan child and adolescent psychiatric clinic of Ali Asghar Hospital in 2015. For twenty patients, only ADHD treatment was applied, and they received no other intervention, but the others in experimental group participated in CBT sessions. Analysis tools were Coppersmith Self-Esteem Scale, ADHD conners' test, and the body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measurements.Results:CBT by teaching parents had a significant effect on ADHD symptoms, the self-esteem of overweight and obese children with ADHD in posttest and follow-up. The results also showed that had a significant effect on ADHD symptoms, overweight and self-esteem of the obese children with ADHD (P < 0.001).Conclusions:Parents focused CBT can be considered as a complementary treatment for reducing ADHD symptoms and BMI and increased self-esteem in the obese ADHD children.

The Association between ADHD and Obesity: Intriguing, Progressively More Investigated, but Still Puzzling

“…Although the results of the study by Levy et al and the most recent studies are potentially highly relevant, caution should be used when interpreting them, as they are not based on randomised evidence. Likewise, the results of another recent study by Karbasi Amel et al [45], showing the positive effects of cognitive behavioural therapy in terms of decreasing ADHD symptoms severity and BMI as well as increasing self- esteem, should be taken with caution, given the lack of randomisation.…”

A Model of Pedometer Determined Physical Activity in Primary School Children

“…The data we obtained are slightly lower than those presented by other scholars, which indicates a sedentary lifestyle of schoolchildren. In addition, according to previously obtained data, more children (70.0%) do not participate in sports, and most of the children spend their free time inactively (computer games, watching TV) (Karbasi et al, 2018).…”

Effectiveness of Vedic chanting on cognitive impairments in an ADHD child: A case study.

“…Assuming these conditions as consistent, as nothing specific was reported by the parents and the subject during the intervention period, the conclusion is drawn that regular Vedic chanting has more sustaining effects on the cognitive functioning of the subject as compared to computerized training. Nevertheless, other nonpharmacological interventions like parent-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (Amel et al, 2018) and mindfulness training of parents of ADHD are also proved to have beneficial effects when used as supportive therapies along with pharmacological treatment of ADHD. Of these interventions, mindfulness was found to produce significant positive results without the use of behavior changing strategies (Singh et al, 2010).…”