This is a systematic review of quantitative research studies and occupational therapy interventions for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Firstly, Nielsen et al. (2017), provide a short introduction to the prevalence, symptomatology, and treatment of school-aged children with ADHD. ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopment disorder that affects 11% of children in the U.S. and has an estimated economic impact of 200 billion per year (Nielsen et al., 2017). One of the standard treatment options is occupational therapy, which addresses the patient’s cognitive, motor, and sensory skills during everyday occupational performance. The authors believe that this article is necessary because there has been no systematic examination and comparison of occupational therapy interventions for children with ADHD.
Secondly, Nielsen et al. (2017), present the methodology used for this systematic review. Key subject terms and words were entered into appropriate databases such as OT Search and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Out of 593 articles published between 2005 and 2015, fourteen met the criteria for the full review. The authors then summarize the article results after dividing them into the fields of cognition, motor, sensory, and play (Nielsen et al., 2017). While the interventions were effective, they have not yet become part of the standard procedure because of certain limitations regarding study design and outcome measures. Many of them lack generalizability because of small sample sizes and lack of randomization or control groups. Nielsen et al. (2017), conclude with a recommendation for more robust research that would produce verifiable, replicable, and generalizable results. In conclusion, this article successfully identifies the weaknesses and strengths of current research on the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for children with ADHD.
Reference
Nielsen, S. K., Kelsch, K., & Miller, K. (2017). Occupational therapy interventions for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review. Occupational Therapy in Mental health, 33(1), 70-80. Web.