Grant: Operating Grant

About 1 and 20 Canadian children have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Often times, children with ADHD have trouble getting along with peers, which can cause them to feel sad or lonely, and also make it more difficult for them to finish school, avoid drug problems, and have productive family lives and careers as adults. For some children with ADHD, even though they are receiving other treatments such as medication or therapy, they still have difficulty with their peer relationships. We have found, however, that parents may be able to help their children with ADHD to make better friendships. This study tests a new treatment to train parents to be "friendship coaches" for their children with ADHD when their children are in elementary school. We are examining the ways in which parents can help their children with ADHD to learn better social skills, to choose the right friends, and to develop good bonds with peers. Our hope is that this treatment will help children with ADHD to get along better with their peers, which will lead to these children having happier and healthier lives as teenagers and adults. If the treatment is successful, then we will be able to offer this service to families of children with ADHD in the future.