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Interventions to enhance social competence
L J Pfiffner1, E Calzada, K McBurnett
1Hyperactivity, Attention and Learning Problems Clinic, University of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|August 17, 2000
Summary
Social impairment in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is challenging to treat. Multimodal psychosocial interventions, combining behavioral strategies and medication, show promise for improving social skills and generalization in children with ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Social impairment is a core challenge in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), significantly impacting quality of life.
- While stimulant medications offer partial improvements in social functioning, they rarely lead to normalized social skills.
- Existing behavioral interventions have evolved from single techniques to comprehensive packages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges in treating social impairment associated with ADHD.
- To explore the progression of behavioral interventions for social skills deficits in ADHD.
- To present a detailed multimodal psychosocial approach for enhancing social functioning in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ADHD social impairment treatments.
- Analysis of unimodal and multimodal behavioral intervention strategies.
- Examination of the combined effects of medication and behavioral therapies.
- Focus on generalization and durability of treatment effects.
Main Results:
- Stimulant treatment provides limited normalization of social functioning in ADHD.
- Multimodal behavioral approaches integrate various cognitive and behavioral techniques.
- Interventions involve children, parents, teachers, and peers.
- Combined medication and behavioral treatments may offer complementary benefits.
Conclusions:
- Treating social impairment in ADHD requires multifaceted strategies.
- Multimodal psychosocial interventions are promising for improving social skills.
- Enhancing generalization and durability are key to successful ADHD social skills treatment.