1 Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD Barbara Maclure 10/03/22 Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD Participants This study's participants will consist of 100 children (N=100) aged 4 to 6 years. This study will be conducted in the school where the children attend the class. The main reason behind selecting the school setting is because, in this setting, all the factors that affect work ethic, social interaction, and behavior will be considered. To conduct this study successfully, a class will be required to have 20-25 students, their teacher, and our professionals. All the participants will be kindergarten children with who ADHD has been diagnosed. We will ensure that the sample size is large enough so that we will be able to collect data that will support or dispute the research question. Using one hundred participants surpasses the threshold; therefore, the data to be collected will have a weight to support or dispute the research question. We will use purposeful sampling criteria to find one hundred students in the grade kindergarten aged 4-6 years. In qualitative research, it is essential to use purposeful sampling to get valuable data despite the limited resources. The children's choice will be based on pediatrician evaluations and diagnosis of ADHD. To get the participant, it will be ensured that they have not gone a treatment therapy before the start of the study. This is to facilitate the participant to be chosen randomly between methylphenidate treatment and behavioral therapy. The study will ensure that the parent consent of the children is taken. The participant will involve males and females. Measures In this study, the best research design is using qualitative experimental research. The main feature of experimental design is selecting the participant randomly; therefore, the research has a maximum control level. In much research for identifying a relationship between two or more variables, they embrace experimental research. This research amicably compares two or more groups. Experimental research consists of both of experimental group and the control group. This experimental group will consist of the children undergoing medication or behavioral therapy; on the other hand, a control group entails children undergoing Methylphenidate. The experimental group gives an independent variable of behavioral therapy. The research will relate behavior therapy's effects symptoms of ADHD and the effect of Methylphenidate therapy on the same symptoms. Extraneous Variables Many variables must be examined and recorded in observing and recording various issues related to ADHD children. No factors present in the children's classroom that may not have an indirect influence on the children's behaviors yet are not related to the ADHD symptoms. The presence of distractibility and peer influence are some of the core aspects that are likely to influence children's behaviors. The children can also b ...

1. 1
Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD
Barbara Maclure
10/03/22
Comparison of Therapies for children Diagnosed with ADHD
Participants
This study's participants will consist of 100 children (N=100)
aged 4 to 6 years. This study will be conducted in the school
where the children attend the class. The main reason behind
selecting the school setting is because, in this setting, all the
factors that affect work ethic, social interaction, and behavior
will be considered. To conduct this study successfully, a class
will be required to have 20-25 students, their teacher, and our
professionals. All the participants will be kindergarten children
with who ADHD has been diagnosed. We will ensure that the
sample size is large enough so that we will be able to collect
data that will support or dispute the research question. Using
one hundred participants surpasses the threshold; therefore, the
data to be collected will have a weight to support or dispute the
research question. We will use purposeful sampling criteria to
find one hundred students in the grade kindergarten aged 4-6
years. In qualitative research, it is essential to use purposeful

2. sampling to get valuable data despite the limited resources. The
children's choice will be based on pediatrician evaluations and
diagnosis of ADHD. To get the participant, it will be ensured
that they have not gone a treatment therapy before the start of
the study. This is to facilitate the participant to be chosen
randomly between methylphenidate treatment and behavioral
therapy. The study will ensure that the parent consent of the
children is taken. The participant will involve males and
females.
Measures
In this study, the best research design is using qualitative
experimental research. The main feature of experimental design
is selecting the participant randomly; therefore, the research has
a maximum control level. In much research for identifying a
relationship between two or more variables, they embrace
experimental research. This research amicably compares two or
more groups. Experimental research consists of both of
experimental group and the control group. This experimental
group will consist of the children undergoing medication or
behavioral therapy; on the other hand, a control group entails
children undergoing Methylphenidate. The experimental group
gives an independent variable of behavioral therapy. The
research will relate behavior therapy's effects symptoms of
ADHD and the effect of Methylphenidate therapy on the same
symptoms.
Extraneous Variables
Many variables must be examined and recorded in observing
and recording various issues related to ADHD children. No
factors present in the children's classroom that may not have an
indirect influence on the children's behaviors yet are not related
to the ADHD symptoms. The presence of distractibility and peer
influence are some of the core aspects that are likely to
influence children's behaviors. The children can also be affected
by the underlying situation related to ADHD and the
comorbidities resulting from ADHD. Some of these variables
cannot be fully monitored but can be closely checked

3. concerning the study.
Instrument
The instrument used in this study to determine whether
behavioral therapy is effective in Comparison to
Methylphenidate therapy in treatment of ADHD is a numerical
rating scale. Specifically, the study's scale will be the
Children's Attentions deficit Evaluation scale. This scale was
developed by different researchers that used the current
literature in neurology, psychology, and education in modern
practices of identifying other individuals' diagnoses. (Buyx,
2019). The reliability of this scale is much dependent on the
participant's faithfulness, but the validity of scale studies is so
promising.
Using this scale in the schools and homes version plays an
essential role in documentation of ADHD features in schools
and home settings of children aged 2-6 years. In most instances,
the ADHD scales is constructed for children’s symptoms who
are older; thus, this scale will be used as it evaluates the
targeted age of the study. To some extent, this scale will be
unique as it will enable both parents and teachers to participate
in the ADHD symptoms present in the numerical scale. This
scale will be part of the pre-diagnosis for ADHD and the
accomplishing the research of the parents and teachers with a
repetition of a questionnaire. This will enable the comparisons
of the child questionnaire before behavioral and
Methylphenidate therapy and provide answers if a reduction of
symptoms is noted concerning the administered treatment.
Intervention Description
Based on CDC, behavioral therapy is the first line of treatment
for children under six years and having been diagnosed with
ADHD is behavioral therapy. Behavioral medicine is essential
in monitoring any negative behaviors resulting from ADHD.
The principle used by behavioral therapy is that the behaviors
are usually learned, and destructive behaviors can be modified.
Psychologists can assist parents and children in focusing on the
negative behaviors that arise from ADHD and the role to play in

4. changing those behaviors. Some forms of behavioral therapy
entail cognitive behavioral, aversion therapy, cognitive
behavioral, and system desensitization. When working with both
the children and the parents, the therapist can use on-form
therapy or combine multiple of them based on their
effectiveness
Data Collection Procedure
This study's participants will be based on the recommendation
of pediatricians. The participant will involve children aged 4 to
6 years diagnosed with ADHD who have yet to start the
treatment. Before the participant's placement, it will be ensured
that the parent's consent is obtained. Once the recommendation
is made, and the parent signs the consent, the research will go
to IRB to seek approval. The researcher will search the group
using random means. Once the IRB verifies the approval, the
participant will be grouped into two. Group A acts as control
group, and group B acts as treatment group.
1.
Group A
a. There will be the prescription of the methylphenidate dosage
of the participant by the Physicians
b. The participant will be required to take Methylphenidate
dosage every morning at 7 am before school. They will be
taking the dosage at the same time
c. It will be ensured that all the participants do not miss the
dosage of medication
d. All side effects of Methylphenidate will be closely monitored
2.
Group B
a. In two months, the participant and parents will undergo eight
behavioral therapy sessions with a well-trained psychologist.
b. The teachers and parents will provide the positive behaviors
identified
c. The teachers and the parents will be required to have similar
behavioral systems in the classroom and at home to have a

5. consistency of participants.
d. It will ensure that the participant has a consistent discipline
band adequate structure.
Data Analysis
The research will be conducted in different demographics to
have diverse participant groups. Male and females will be
included in the study aged 4-6 years. The study will ensure that
the participants are from different ethnic groups having the
fulfillment of being diagnosed with ADHD yet not started the
treatment. Descriptive studies will be implemented to analyze
the demographic, as shown IN the table below.
Race
Age
Gender
Grade
Central Tendency
Mean
median
Mode

6. Standard Deviation
Distribution
Variance
Dispersion
In the analysis, ADHD symptoms score will be determined by
ACADDES educators and parent questionnaires. The
questionnaire will use a scale that ranges from 0 to 4. Zero
indicates no sign of ADHD, and four exhibits ADHD behavior.
The trial participants in the two available groups' scores will be
done before that treatment when completion of the trial process
is done. The analysis is supposed to run through ECADDES
computer system that will convert scores from raw to standards
and percentiles, thus making the score to be more efficient. The
descriptive statistics will consist of standard deviation,
Variance and inference methods will be a t-test used to analyze
data collected from the questionnaire. Comparison will be made
in both groups to examine whether experimental group
participants in the behavior therapy outcomes differed from the

7. stimulant Methylphenidate control group.
Results
The study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the
treatment symptoms of ADHD between behavioral and
Methylphenidate therapy. This research was guided by the
hypothesis that stated non-pharmacology therapy is an
appropriate therapy for ADHD compared to Methylphenidate
stimulant therapy for children aged 4-6 years. Based on the
literature review, we can predict the real expectation of the
results. For example, the CDC's study in 2018 indicated that
less than 50 % of the children practicing stimulant therapy had
initially practiced behavioral therapy. Of the children aged
between 4-5 years, only one out of five was taking the
medication to treat ADHD instead of recommending the use of
behavioral therapy. This study also identified variations in the
use of behavioral treatment from State to State. (Thyagarajan
(2019) The study showed that all those states that opted to
utilize behavioral therapy as the first line of treatment had
decreased the number of children on the stimulate therapies.
Most studies have put a lot of emphasis on combining
behavioral therapy and stimulant medication. The current
research also shows that pharmacological therapy is an effective
method of treatment of the symptoms.
The figure below shows the expected results of the side effects
of the different therapies.
This indicates that the method B score is higher than A, thus
more effective in treating ADHD.
Discussion
Ethical Issues
In conducting any research, there are incidences of ethical
issues to arise, especially when using minor children. When

8. performing the study involving children, it is essential to
identify what the targeted population will benefit from the
research. The central issue that requires to be addressed is
whether the investigation will bring harm to children. (Freitag
& Buyx (2019). In this research, the participant in the control
group will receive Methylphenidate therapy which cannot
endanger the participant or put them at risk from the
medication. The parents will be well informed of the side effect
through consent, and if the side effects arise, the pediatrician
will check the patient. Despite the research being conducted in a
school setting, it will be ensured that confidentiality and
privacy will remain intact. The researcher will not require to
expose the information on the progress of the teachers who is
part of the evaluation process.
Limitation of the study
The environment in which the research is conducted may
become prone to biased results. The classroom environment may
be subject to high stimulation from the children. It may be a
rise in distractions that may result in poor results during the
evaluation process. In addition, the person collecting the data
may affect the performance. The teacher may score the students
differently basing the criteria used, while the parents see them
differently. The teacher and the parents can skew the score
since they know the initial performance. To provide a resolution
to this, it is essential to ensure that the participants are taken to
classrooms where they are not familiar with their teachers.
References
Shellenberg, Stoops, Lile & Rush (2020). An update on the
clinical pharmacology of Methylphenidate: therapeutic efficacy,
abuse potential, and future considerations.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology,
13(8), 827.
Jayamaha, Perera, Herath & Rodrigo (2018). A cross-sectional
survey of adherence, perceived efficacy, and side effects of

9. Methylphenidate among children at a teaching hospital in Sri
Lanka.
Masi, Fantozzi, Villafranca, Tacchi, Ricci, Ruglioni & Cortese
(2019). Effects of melatonin in children with attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder with sleep disorders after
methylphenidate treatment.
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment,
15, 663.
Sierawska, Prehn-Kristensen, Moliadze, Krauel, Nowak, Freitag
& Buyx (2019). Unmet needs in children with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder—can transcranial direct current
stimulation fill the gap? Promises and ethical challenges.
Frontiers in psychiatry,
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management training (PMT) on the reduction of behavioral
symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity
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Quarterly Journal of Child Mental Health,
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Bussalb, Congedo, Barthélemy, Ojeda, Acquaviva, E., Delorme
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Comparison of the Two Groups
Group A 3 2 3 4 4 Group B 4 4 4 3
4