Peer-reviewed for presentation at conference

Long-term reduction in ADHD symptoms following exercise-based treatment for learning disability

Date:  2003-2006

Authors: Rutherford DR

Presentation: The American Psychological Association International Conference, New Orleans USA 2006

Scope:

This study was based on data collected from clients who had completed the Dore Programme in the UK and who had received full ADHD DSM 4 assessments at the initial and final attendance at a Dore centre. The population size was 895 and no clients within this population were excluded. This population did not include all participants of the Dore Programme during this period as not all participants would have completed the Dore Programme to enable them to receive the full ADHD DSM 4 assessments at the start and end of the Dore Programme.  The ADHD DSM 4 is an internationally recognized assessment for diagnosing attention and hyperactive behaviour. Of this total population, 698 were children under 16 years of age.

171 clients in this group were also part of a random follow up group assessed 6 to12 months after completion of the Dore Programme to assess long term effectiveness.

Results:

What is effect size?

At the start of the study:

• 72.8% of all clients showed ‘clinical’ levels of symptoms of ADHD broken down as follows:
• 56.8% were classified as inattentive only
• 13.6% were classified as combined type (inattentive and impulsive/hyperactive)
• 2.4% were classified as Impulsive/Hyperactive only

After the Dore Programme:

• 19.1% showed ‘clinical’ levels of ADHD symptoms broken down as follows:
• 12% were classified as inattentive only
• 3.2% were classified as combined type ADHD
• 4% were classified as Impulsive/Hyperactive only

The study also found that:

• The best improvements were shown in the inattention group (strong effect size +3.32)

• 94% with initial ‘clinical’ inattention symptoms improved

• 5% with initial ‘clinical’ inattention symptoms remained unchanged

• 1% with initial ‘clinical’ inattention symptoms became worse

• Changes in the hyperactive/impulsive group were also positive (strong effect size +2.6)

• 91% with initial ‘clinical’ hyperactive/impulsive symptoms improved

• 5% with initial ‘clinical’ hyperactive/impulsive symptoms remained unchanged

• 4% with initial ‘clinical’ hyperactive/impulsive symptoms became worse

When the study looked at the long term effectiveness:

• The improvements in ADHD inattention was sustained 6-12 months later
• The improvements in ADHD hyperactivity improved further 6-12 months later

Comparisons of results to another large ADHD study (MTA study):

• The MTA study is the largest study of standard intervention in children diagnosed with the combined type of ADHD and examined the long term effects of intensive medication, behavioural support and combined medication and behavioural support for combined type ADHD.
• The differences between the children in the two studies are that the MTA children have formally diagnosed ADHD of the combined type whereas the Dore study has predominantly previously undiagnosed ADHD of the mainly inattentive type.
• The MTA study showed a good improvement in ADHD symptom changes from initial to final assessment (effect size 1.62) but the Dore study showed an even stronger improvement in ADHD symptom changes from initial to final assessment (effect size 3.32 for attention and 2.6 for hyperactivity)               

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