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Parent ADHD and Evidence-Based Treatment for Their Children: Review and Directions for Future Research

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Abstract

One fourth to one half of parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have ADHD themselves, complicating delivery of evidence-based child behavioral and pharmacological treatments. In this article, we review the literature examining the relation between parent ADHD and outcomes following behavioral and pharmacological treatments for children with ADHD. We also review research that has incorporated treatment of parent ADHD (either alone or in combination with child treatment) with the goal of improving parenting and child outcomes. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research on the relation between parent ADHD and evidence-based treatment outcomes for their children, with the purpose of advancing the science and informing clinical care of these families.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by NIMH R34 MH099208 (Stein & Chronis-Tuscano) with partial support provided by Shire Pharmaceuticals (Stein).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

      Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, Christine H. Wang & Kelsey E. Woods

    2. Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA

      Jennifer Strickland & Mark A. Stein

    3. University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

      Mark A. Stein

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    1. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano
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    2. Christine H. Wang
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    Correspondence to Andrea Chronis-Tuscano.

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    Andrea Chronis-Tuscano and Christine H. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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    Chronis-Tuscano, A., Wang, C.H., Woods, K.E. et al. Parent ADHD and Evidence-Based Treatment for Their Children: Review and Directions for Future Research. J Abnorm Child Psychol 45, 501–517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-016-0238-5

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