The STARS Program: Social Empowerment Training for Preadolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Peer Inclusion in Interventions for Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of peer inclusion in interventions to improve the social functioning of children with ADHD.

Methods

We searched four electronic databases for randomized controlled trials and controlled quasi-experimental studies that investigated peer inclusion interventions alone or combined with pharmacological treatment. Data were collected from the included studies and methodologically assessed. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model.

Results

Seventeen studies met eligibility criteria. Studies investigated interventions consisting of peer involvement and peer proximity; no study included peer mediation. Most included studies had an unclear or high risk of bias regarding inadequate reporting of randomization, blinding, and control for confounders. Meta-analyses indicated improvements in pre-post measures of social functioning for participants in peer-inclusive treatment groups. Peer inclusion was advantageous compared to treatment as usual. The benefits of peer inclusion over other therapies or medication only could not be determined. Using parents as raters for outcome measurement significantly mediated the intervention effect.

Conclusions

The evidence to support or contest the efficacy of peer inclusion interventions for children with ADHD is lacking. Future studies need to reduce risks of bias, use appropriate sample sizes, and provide detailed results to investigate the efficacy of peer inclusion interventions for children with ADHD.

A school-based approach to early identification and management of students with ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most challenging chronic conditions for children, families, schools, and physicians. Because symptoms of ADHD can be mistaken for other health conditions and misdiagnosis can occur, accurate diagnosis and treatment require comprehensive evaluation. This article introduces a school-based framework- ADHD Identification and Management in Schools (AIMS)-developed by a multidisciplinary team composed of a pediatrician, school nurses, and school psychologists that sought to improve communication between school personnel and physicians, standardize practice, and improve the quality of care for children with ADHD. The framework provides school nurses with an evidence-based, systematic method for early identification and management of children with ADHD.