What are behavioral treatments?
There are various forms of behavioral interventions used for children with ADHD, including psychotherapy, cognitive–behavioral therapy, social skills training, support groups, and parent and educator skills training. An example of very intensive behavior therapy was used in the NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA), which involved the child’s teacher, the family, and participation in an all–day, 8–week summer camp. The consulting therapist worked with teachers to develop behavior management strategies that address behavioral problems interfering with classroom behavior and academic performance. A trained classroom aide worked with the child for 12 weeks in his or her classroom, to provide support and reinforcement for appropriate, on–task behavior. Parents met with the therapist alone and in small groups to learn approaches for handling problems at home and school. The summer day camp was aimed at improving social behavior, academic work, and sports skills.
