Objectives & Statement of the Problem 2
Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature 4
Limited research has been conducted in the area of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in adults. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) (1999) stated that ADD in adults has not been thoroughly researched and only recently has been recognized as an adult disability. CHADD reported that this might be attributed to the previous belief that the symptoms of ADD were resolved in adolescence due to brain development, hormonal change, or other developmental changes. Mannuzza, Klein, Bessler, Malloy, and LaPadula (1997) also expressed the concern that very little is known about the adult outcome of ADD.
Self-esteem is considered the most important aspect of self-development (Stipek, Recchia, & McClintic, 1992). Research found regarding affects of ADD/ADHD on adult's self-esteem is lacking.
Objectives & Statement of the Problem
The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which ADD/ADHD affects adult's self-esteem. Intervention strategies used in psychotherapy will be evaluated to determine which approaches prove to be the most beneficial in improving self-esteem. It will also look at the effects psychotherapy and/or psychopharmacology have on the improvements of self-esteem.
The following research question will be focused on in this study:
Which intervention strategies are the most effective in improving self-esteem in adults with ADHD?
The following hypotheses will be tested in this study:
Subjects receiving both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy will show higher post-test measures on self-esteem than those adults receiving only one mode of therapy.
Subjects receiving only psychotherapy will show the lowest post-test measures on self-esteem.
Evidence has lead to the belief that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is caused by abnormal catecholamine metabolism ...