Project ADHD
Project ADHD
Since 2002, the project ADHD has studied aspects of Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and self-regulation. The project was founded in Constance in 2002 by Caterina Gawrilow and continued to exist in Hamburg from 2005 to 2009. Since April 2009, the project ADHD has been incorporated in the IDeA-Center.
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Affected children are inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive, which leads to manifold difficulties in school and social life. Furthermore, children and adolescents with ADHD show deficits in executive function – i.e. in inhibiting behaviors and reactions or in flexible switching between tasks. Thus, their ability to self-regulate is restricted.
The project ADHD focuses mainly on two questions (1) Which competencies and deficits do children and adolescents with ADHD have? and (2) Can self-regulatory strategies be helpful to improve these deficits?
Aims and Questions
Which competencies and deficits do children and adolescents with ADHD have?
Although it is known that children with ADHD show deficits in executive function the nature of these difficulties is still in question – Research questions are for example if children with ADHD show difficulties in all domains requiring executive functioning or if all ADHD children show the same deficits. To answer these questions we develop child-oriented computer tasks taping for example inhibition of response or delay of gratification (i.e., disclaim a small reward to get a larger reward later). These and other tasks are administered to children with and without ADHD to examine specific deficits and strengths of children with ADHD. In a longitudinal study we try to identify factors indicating a risk for ADHD. For this purpose, we follow a group of children during their transition from kindergarten to school and investigate how school enrolment comes to pass for children with problems in inhibition and self-regulation. We aim at identifying risk factors for an ADHD diagnosis early to provide affected children with treatment before school enrolment.
Can self-regulatory strategies be helpful?
Self-regulation enables an individual to control one’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior and is related to the individual’s satisfaction regarding different life domains (e.g., physical health and emotional well-being). Moreover, self-regulation has positive effects on children’s social skills and school performance. However, some children and adolescents, especially those with ADHD, have difficulty controlling their behavior. These children and adolescents benefit particularly from self-regulatory strategies (e.g., if-then-plans that define when, where, and how an individual performs a specific behavior to attain a desired goal). We examine the effectiveness of if-then-plans not only experimentally, i.e., under laboratory conditions, but also applied, particularly at school. Regarding children with ADHD, we are interested in the question whether self-regulatory strategies help children with ADHD to enhance their academic progress. This study is financially supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and will be conducted in close collaboration with the Private Gymnasium Esslingen. In another study, we examine the long-term effects of a newly developed self-regulation training, particularly for adolescents at risk, to enhance physical activity thereby reducing depressed mood and improving executive functions.
Designs and Methods
Our designs are mainly cross-sectional and experimental and in some cases correlational. Furthermore we conduct longitudinal studies over a time span of a few weeks up to two years.
For further information please visit our website: www.adhd-research.com
Synergys
Project GIDeCA
Project KoKo
Project SelF
Team
Prof. Dr. Caterina Gawrilow
Juliane Albert, Dipl. Psych.
Lena Guderjahn, Dipl. Psych.
Shuan-Ju Rita Hung, M. A.
Nadine Langguth, Dipl. Psych.
Julia Merkt, Dipl. Psych.
Tilman Reinelt, Dipl. Psych.
Karl-Heinz Untch, Dipl. Psych.
Andrea Wirth, Dipl. Psych.
Cooperations
Dr. Isabella Paul Universität Konstanz
Dr. Gertraud Stadler Columbia University
Dr. Antje von Suchodoletz Universität Freiburg
Beratungsstelle Main-Kind Frankfurt
Griffin Early Childhood Center Chicago
Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität
Philip-Holzmann-Schule
Praxis Dr. Goossens-Merkt
Privates Gymnasium Esslingen
Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum Frankfurt Mitte
Sozialpsychatrisches Zetrum für Kinder und Jugendliche Frankfurt
National Taiwan University Hospital
