J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2012 Jun;23(2):82-89.

Application of Family Treatment Camp in Treatment of ADHD

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Motherth Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ahndh@hanyang.ac.kr
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Cheongju St. Mary's Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
Demands for comprehensive and intensive treatment programs for treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who suffer from serious impairment in various psychosocial areas are increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of developing new types of camp programs focused on improving social adjustment of children and helping parents effectively manage their children's problem behaviors.
METHODS
Fifteen children diagnosed as ADHD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (mean age 9.5 years) and their parents participated in this program. Eight consecutive camps were held at two-week intervals, from Jun 2007 to Oct 2007 in an adolescent training center located at Chungtaesan, in Korea. Each camp program included social skills training in the classroom and outdoor activities in the forest for children, as well as parent training for mothers. In addition, after the sixth camp, we conducted one parental session for fathers and a three-day booster family camp three months later. Finally, eleven families adhered to the program.
RESULTS
All children, parents, and therapists rated questionnaires or checklists at baseline, intra-, and post-treatment. Parenting burden rated using the Parenting Stress Index showed a significant decrease, from 57.89 to 46.22 (p=.019). And, overprotection rated using the Parenting Bonding Instrument showed a significant decrease, from 16.56 to 12.44 (p=.046). However, no significant improvement in children's behavioral and emotional problems was observed.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the consecutive ADHD family camp program was effective for empowerment of parental competency, but not for general improvement of children's behavioral and emotional symptoms.

Keyword

ADHD; Family Camp; Comprehensive Treatment Programs

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Checklist
Child
Fathers
Humans
Korea
Mothers
Parenting
Parents
Power (Psychology)
Social Adjustment
Surveys and Questionnaires
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