Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Academic Procrastination of Adolescents with ADHD

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Psychology, Tabriz Branch, Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz , Iran

2 Department of educational science, Faculty of educational science and psychology, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad university of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of educational science, Faculty of educational science and psychology, Islamic Azad university of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: ACT, as a promising approach, has received a lot of attention in the treatment of children and adolescents problem. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on ADHD symptoms and academic procrastination of ADHD adolescents.
Materials and Methods: Following a pretest-posttest with control group quasi-experimental design, 16 adolescents with ADHD were selected from among clients of Psychiatric and Psychological Service centers with regard to the inclusion criteria and then randomly assigned into experimental (n=8) or control groups (n=8). Child Symptom Index (CSI-4) and Savari’s Academic Procrastination Scale were completed prior to the interventions by all participants and then participants of experiment group individually received a 10-session ACT intervention, while control group received no intervention. After the intervention, the in instruments were completed by participants again.
Results: The results of covariance analysis showed that the intervention had no significant effect on inattentiveness, but it was effective on hyperactivity/impulsivity. Also, the results showed that interventions reduced deliberate procrastination, caused by physical-mental fatigue and lack of schedule, and the total score of procrastination.
Conclusion:, Findings implicate that ACT is effective and promising intervention, specially for hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and procrastination.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 8, Issue 2
July 2019
Pages 106-118

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 May 2018
  • Revise Date: 13 June 2018
  • Accept Date: 10 September 2018
  • First Publish Date: 22 June 2019

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