Functional Impairment in School Aged South African Children with ADHD: Design, implementation, and evaluation of a targeted intervention

This data was collected for my Doctoral research thesis. This is the thesis abstract: 

ABSTRACT

This research study investigated functional impairment as experienced by school-aged South African children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The intial data collected informed the design and evaluation of a targeted intervention. Although ADHD is one of the most prevalent childhood neurobehavioural disorders, little empirical research has been published on its clinical presentation in Africa. Hence, Stage 1 of this research programme aimed to describe the functional impairment of South African children with ADHD, and also investigated the influence of sociodemographic variables (e.g., sex, age, socioeconomic status, family environment) and clinical variables (e.g., ADHD subtype and comorbidity) on the degree of that impairment. I used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents as a diagnostic tool, and the Child Behavior Checklist, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Impairment Rating Scale  as measures of functional impairment. Stage 2 of the research aimed to design, implement and evaluate an intervention that targeted the primary areas of impairment identified in the first stage of the research. Existing literature suggests that a positive parent-training programme, in group format, is one of the best options for cost-effective and successful intervention. Hence, our intervention took the format of an 8 week parent trainig programme. Evaluation of the intervention used the same measures as in Study 1 to assess functional imparimtent before and after the intervention. Data was simultaneously  collected for participants in a control group, whom particiapted in an 8 week support group process.  Data was also collected for a wait-list control group. Studying functional impairment and intervention plans in this way will pave the way for evidence-based treatment plans focused on ADHD. 

The uploaded spreedsheets include the following data sets: 

• All participant identifying's details, including SES, age, gender, race, access to resources, schooling information. 
• Intervention group's funcitioning as measured on CBCL, SDQ and IRS, pre and post intervention, and at 6 month follow-up. 
• Waitist control group's functioing as measured on CBCL, SDQ and IRS, pre and post 8 week waiting time. 
• Support group (control group)'s functioning as measured on CBCL, SDQ and IRS, pre and post support group process.