Effect of non-pharmacological treatment on the full recovery of social functioning in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND: Long-term treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and sleep disturbances, and poor maintenance of late ADHD medication compromises treatment outcomes and prolongs the recovery of patients' social functioning. AIM: To evaluate the effect of non-pharmacological treatment on the full recovery of social functioning in patients with ADHD. METHODS: A total of 90 patients diagnosed with ADHD between May 2019 and August 2020 were included in the study and randomly assigned to either the pharmacological group (methylphenidate hydrochloride and tomoxetine hydrochloride) or the non-pharmacological group (parental training, behavior modification, sensory integration therapy, and sand tray therapy), with 45 cases in each group. Outcome measures included treatment compliance, Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version IV (SNAP-IV) scores, Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) scores, and Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS) scores. RESULTS: The non-pharmacological interventions resulted in significantly higher compliance in patients (95.56%) compared with medication (71.11%) (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in SNAP-IV and PSQ scores, in addition to the learning/school, social activities, and adventure activities of the WFIRS scores were observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). Patients with non-pharmacological interventions showed higher WFIRS scores for family, daily life skills, and self-concept than those in the pharmacological group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Non-pharmacological interventions, in contrast to the potential risks of adverse events after long-term medication, improve patient treatment compliance, alleviate patients' behavioral symptoms of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, and improve their cognitive ability, thereby improving family relationships and patient self-evaluation.