Linking Adherence to Effectiveness in Family-Based Adolescent ADHD Academic Training and Medication Decision-Making Protocols.

OBJECTIVE Changing Academic Support in the Home for Adolescents with ADHD (CASH-AA) and Medication Integration Protocol (MIP) are two family-based behavioral protocols designed to promote family solutions to academic problems and medication decision-making. Building on a randomized control trial examining these protocols, the current study examined how protocol dose, an indicator of treatment adherence, was associated with treatment outcomes. METHOD The sample consisted of 145 adolescent clients (M age = 14.8, 72% male, 42% White, 37% Hispanic, 15% Black) and 49 community and hospital-based therapists (82% female, 63% White, 29% Hispanic). Latent growth curve models examined how therapist reports of minutes adolescents and their caregivers received CASH-AA and MIP predicted levels and change in inattentive and hyperactive symptoms (MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview); co-occurring symptoms (Youth Self Report/Child Behavior Checklist); homework problems (Homework Problems Checklist); and medication compliance at baseline, 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS MIP minutes were prospectively associated with lower caregiver-reported inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, adolescent- and caregiver-reported externalizing symptoms and caregiver-reported homework problems at the 12-month follow-up (ẞ range = -.16 to -.39, p < .05), as well as faster decline in caregiver-reported inattentive symptoms (ẞ = -.29, p < .001). CASH-AA minutes were associated with greater caregiver-reported inattentive symptoms (ẞ = .11, p = .049) at 12-month follow-up and slower declines in homework problems (ẞ = -.39, p < .001). Neither MIP nor CASH-AA minutes were associated with internalizing symptoms or medication use. CONCLUSIONS Findings further support MIP as an effective behavioral protocol for adolescent ADHD and indicate the need for increasing MIP implementation efforts in community settings.