The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and Its Integration with Parental Management Training on Symptoms of ADHD in 7-11 Year Old Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background and Objectives: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of cognitive behavioral play therapy (CBPT) and its integration with parental management training (PMT) on the symptoms of ADHD in children aged 7-11 years. Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test with the control group. The study population included children with ADHD in Kermanshah city in 2019, of whom 48 were selected by multistage random cluster sampling and they were randomly allocated in experimental groups 1 and 2 and one control group in equal numbers. In the experimental group 1, CBPT was performed in 10 sessions of 10 -90-minute and in the experimental group 2, CBPT and its integration with PMT was performed  in 10 sessions of 10 -90-minute. The control group (group 3) did not receive any intervention. Data were collected before and after the intervention through completing Swanson attention deficit hyperactivity disorder questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: After the treatment, there was found a statistically significant difference between the average score of the symptoms of ADHD in the experimental group 1 (34.24±1.86) and the control group (37.80±3.23) and the experimental group 2 (31.18±2.07) and the control group (37.80±3.23) (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the effect of CBPT and the integration of CBPT and PMT (p<0.05). Comparing the mean of two approaches, the integrated intervention was more effective. Conclusion: CBPT, PMT and their integration might be effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD.  The aforementioned approaches is suggested to be used in psychological counseling centers. Key words: Cognitive-behavioral play therapy (CBPT), Parent management training (PMT), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)   Funding: This study did not have any funds. Conflict of interest: None declared. Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.KUMS.REC.1398.42).   How to cite this article: Feizollahi J, Sadeghi M, Rezaei F. The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and Its Integration with Parental Management Training on Symptoms of ADHD in 7-11 Year Old Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2020; 19 (2): 155-72. [Farsi]