Attributional Outcomes: The Subtle Messages of Treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder

136 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1986.The present study examined the attributional effects of combining medication with cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of children diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Thirty ADD subjects received a 22-session cognitive training program focusing on self-control over behavior. Children were also randomly assigned to receive methylphenidate, placebo, or no pill. Children, parents, teachers, and project staff in direct contact with the children were blind to each child's medication group. Medication group was found to influence parent attributions for the causes and solutions to their children's presenting problems. While child measures did not reveal significant effects, group means were directionally similar to those of the parents. Parents in the no pill group believed most strongly that their children were capable of solving their own presenting problems. The placebo group most strongly believed that solutions would result form external and uncontrollable factors. No group differences were found at posttest on achievement attributions measures or on measures of behavioral or cognitive improvements. The motivational effects of combining medication with psychotherapy or other behavior change procedures were emphasized. Implications for combined treatment tactics in clinical and research settings were discussed, as were applications to behavioral medicine.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD