Eficacia de un programa de psicoeducación aplicado por enfermeras y dirigido a padres de niños con Trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad

Background. Recent studies suggest that Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients receiving combination treatment of medication, behavioral therapy, educational support and parental psychoeducation, show a better response compared with patients receiving medication or psychological treatment alone. Objectives. To assess the efficacy of a nurse-led psychoeducational program for parents of children with ADHD added to methylphenidate, compared with the use of medication alone. Methods. We did a longitudinal naturalistic study with intervention (psychoeducation+ methylphenidate) and control group (methylphenidate alone). We administered a battery of questionnaires to a sample of 14 families of children with ADHD that received a nurse-led Psychoeducational Program and 21 who did not received psychoeducation. Results. We found a significant improvement in the ADHD Rating Scale scores for both groups, with no significant differences between them. However, patients in the psychoeducation group required a lower medication dose increase compared with patients on the non-psychoeducation group. We also found good improvement in the Family Environment Scale Cultural interest subscale and good scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (>50% of patients had normal scores on 4 of 5 subscales). Parents evaluated the program as being very helpful. Conclusion. Patients in the psychoeducation group obtained similar improvements in ADHD-RS with a lower medication dose increase. The use of nurse-led pscyhoeducational programs in combination with medication suggests that a more gentle and practical approach may be helpful in the treatment of children with ADHD.