Abstract
This study sought to examine parent perceptions of medication use for 151 preschool children (M age = 5.05 years, 78% male, 82% Hispanic/Latino) with or at-risk for ADHD who were medication naive. Parents completed questionnaires regarding family background and perceptions of medication treatment. Parents and teachers completed ratings of child diagnostic symptomatology, behavioral functioning, and functional impairment. Results indicate that only 45% of parents were open to the possibility of medication. No associations were found between child demographics, severity of ADHD symptoms, or level of functional impairment and parental openness to medication. On the other hand, children of parents who were open to medication tended to have higher levels of oppositionality and aggression (as reported by parents but not teachers) compared with children of parents who were not open to medication. These findings are discussed in the context of early intervention given their implications for a variety of treatment providers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lavigne JV et al (2009) The prevalence of ADHD, ODD, depression, and anxiety in a community sample of 4-year-olds. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 38(3):315–328
Visser SN et al (2015) Diagnostic experiences of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Natl Health Stat Rep 2015(81):1–7
Evans SW, Owens JS, Bunford N (2014) Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 43(4):527–551
Fabiano GA et al (2009) A meta-analysis of behavioral treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clin Psychol Rev 29(2):129–140
Pelham WE Jr, Fabiano GA (2008) Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 37(1):184–214
Greenhill, L., S. Pliszka, M. Dulcan, Bernet W, Arnold V, Beitchman J, Benson RS, Bukstein O, Kinlan J, McClellan J, Rue D, Shaw J, Stock S, American Academy of child and Adoscelent Pschiatry (2002) Practice parameters for the use of stimulant medications in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41:26S–49S
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health (2011) ADHD: clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 128(5):1007–1022
Gleason MM et al (2007) Psychopharmacological treatment for very young children: contexts and guidelines. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 46(12):1532–1572
Visser S.N. et al (2016) Vital signs: national and state-specific patterns of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment among insured children aged 2–5 years—United States, 2008–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 65(17):443–450
Fiks AG et al (2016) Preschool ADHD diagnosis and stimulant use before and after the 2011 AAP practice guideline. Pediatrics 138(6):e20162025
Coyle JT (2000) Psychotropic drug use in very young children. JAMA 283(8):1059–1060
Pelham WE Jr et al (2016) Treatment sequencing for childhood ADHD: a multiple-randomization study of adaptive medication and behavioral interventions. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 45(4):396–415
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html. Accessed
Dosreis S et al (2003) Parental perceptions and satisfaction with stimulant medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Dev Beha Pediatr 24(3):155–162
McNeal RE, Roberts MC, Barone VJ (2000) Mothers’ and children’s perceptions of medication for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 30(3):173–187
Hansen DL, Hansen EH (2006) Caught in a balancing act: parents’ dilemmas regarding their ADHD child’s treatment with stimulant medication. Qual Health Res 16(9):1267–1285
Harpur RA et al (2008) The attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication-related attitudes of patients and their parents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 18(5):461–473
Lazaratou H et al (2007) Parental attitudes and opinions on the use of psychotropic medication in mental disorders of childhood. Ann Gen Psychiatry 6(1):32
Görtz-Dorten A et al (2011) What contributes to patient and parent satisfaction with medication in the treatment of children with ADHD? A report on the development of a new rating scale. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 20(2):297
Chacko A et al (2010) Improving medication adherence in chronic pediatric health conditions: a focus on ADHD in youth. Curr Pharm Des 16(22):2416–2423
Eiraldi RB et al (2006) Service utilization among ethnic minority children with ADHD: a model of help-seeking behavior. Adm Policy Ment 33(5):607–622
Graziano PA, Slavec J, Hart K, Garcia A, Pelham Jr WE (2014) Improving school readiness in preschoolers with behavior problems: results from a summer treatment program. J Psychopathol Behav 36(4):555–569
Graziano PA, Hart K (2016) Beyond behavior modification: benefits of social–emotional/self-regulation training for preschoolers with behavior problems. J school psychol 58:91–111
Reynolds CR, RW Kamphaus (2004) BASC-2: behavior assessment system for children.
Wechsler D (2002) WPPSI-III technical and interpretive manual. The Psychological Corporation, New York
Wechsler D, (2012) Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence, 4th edn. NCS Pearson, San Antonio, TX
Keenan K et al (2007) Further evidence of the reliability and validity of DSM-IV ODD and CD in preschool children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 46(4):457–468
Shaffer D et al (2000) NIMH diagnostic interview schedule for children version IV (NIMH DISC-IV): description, differences from previous versions, and reliability of some common diagnoses. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 39(1):28–38
Hollingshead AB (1975) Four factor index of social status. Yale University, New Haven
Graziano PA, Geffken GR, Lall AS, (2010) Heterogeneity in the pharmacological treatment of children with ADHD: cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning differences. J Atten Disord 15(5):382–391
Pelham WE et al (1992) Teacher ratings of DSM-III-R symptoms for the disruptive behavior disorders: prevalence, factor analyses, and conditional probabilities in a special education sample. School Psychol Rev 21(2):285–299
Fabiano GA et al (2006) A practical measure of impairment: psychometric properties of the impairment rating scale in samples of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and two school-based samples. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 35(3):369–385
Singh I (2003) Boys will be boys: fathers’ perspectives on ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, and drug treatment. Harv Rev Psychiatry 11(6):308–316
Singh I (2006) A framework for understanding trends in ADHD diagnoses and stimulant drug treatment: schools and schooling as a case study. BioSocieties 1(4):439–452
U.S. Census Bureau, (January 2006). Race and hispanic origin in 2003, Population Profile of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerse, p. 3.
Rostain AL, Power TJ, Atkins MS (1993) Assessing parents’ willingness to pursue treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 32(1):175–181
Christensen L et al (2010) Pharmacological treatment patterns among patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: retrospective claims-based analysis of a managed care population. Curr Med Res Opin 26(4):977–989
Biederman J, Faraone SV, Monuteaux MC (2002) Differential effect of environmental adversity by gender: Rutter’s index of adversity in a group of boys and girls with and without ADHD. Am J Psychiatry 159(9):1556–1562
Gershon J (2002) Gender differences in ADHD. ADHD Rep 10(4):8–16
Pappadopulos E et al (2003) Treatment recommendations for the use of antipsychotics for aggressive youth (TRAAY). Part II. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42(2):145–161
Schur SB et al (2003) Treatment recommendations for the use of antipsychotics for aggressive youth (TRAAY). Part I: a review. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42(2):132–144
Acknowledgements
The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R324A120136, as well as a local grant from The Children’s Trust (1329–7290). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Institute, the U.S. Department of Education, or The Children’s Trust. The authors would also like to acknowledge the support of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and thank the dedicated staff and students who made this study possible. Finally, with deep appreciation, the authors would like to thank the families who participated in the study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hart, K.C., Ros, R., Gonzalez, V. et al. Parent Perceptions of Medication Treatment for Preschool Children with ADHD. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 49, 155–162 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-017-0737-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-017-0737-9