Effects of family attitudes to drug treatment in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

ABSTRACT Effects of Family Attitudes to Drug Treatment in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Objectives: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is associated with a wide range of genetic and environmental factors and disrupts the quality of life of the child. Family attitudes play an important role in the course and severity of the disease. In this study, the effect of the family attitudes of the ADHD patients on ADHD symptoms and response to drug treatment were investigated. Material and Methods: 167 patients with ADHD between the ages of 6-12 were included in the study. Pre- and post-treatment, Conners' Parental Graduation Scale (CPRS), Turgay Family ADHD scale and Stroop TBAG were applied. The Family Assessment Scale (FAD), Conners' Teacher Design Scale (CTRS), Parental Attitude Scale, and Family Life and Child Rearing Attitude Scale (PARI) were applied. Results: The mean age of the patients was 8.3 ± 1.7. 73.7% of the cases were male and 26.3% were female. 62.3% of the cases were ADHD-Inattentive and 37.7% were combine sub-types. Of these cases, 50.9% perceived their family as authoritarian, 37.1% as permissive / tolerant, 10.2% as negligent and 1.8% as democratic. The ADHD-Inattentive sub-type family is more protective and democratic than ADHD-combine sub-types, the families of the combine type are more likely to apply the discipline rather than families of the ADHD-Inattentive subtype. Significant improvements were found in post-treatment CPRS subscale scores in authoritarian and tolerant family attitudes. Conclusion: Family conflict increases with inappropriate disciplinary methods and then communication between parents and children is disrupted. The response to treatment was similar and significant in different family attitudes. Key Words: ADHD, family attitude, treatment, parent, stimulant.