OIST Mini Symposium "Translating evidence on altered motivational processes in ADHD into behavioral management strategies: Toward new research ideas"

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic and debilitating condition, that impairs academic performance, social relationships and future occupational functioning. Prognosis is poor if not treated effectively. Altered processing of reinforcement contingencies is hypothesized to be a core deficit in ADHD. Numerous empirical studies support differences in the behavioral sensitivity of children with ADHD to reward and punishment.

Evidence-based treatments of ADHD include pharmacotherapy and Behavioral Parent Training (BPT). The latter is recommended as a first line treatment for child with mild to moderate ADHD and preferred over medication by many parents. Existing BPT programs, while effective in improving parenting practices and increasing child compliance, do not significantly reduce independently rated symptoms of ADHD nor do they improve long-term outcomes. These programs teach caregivers to increase the frequency of appropriate behavior and reduce the frequency of unacceptable behavior through manipulating reinforcement contingencies, i.e., the systematic and consistent reward of appropriate behavior together with ignoring or punishment of unacceptable behaviors. Currently available programs do not address alterations in the way children with ADHD respond to reward and punishment.

This mini-symposium brings together international experts in BPT and motivational processing in ADHD together with junior researchers, all with an interest in translating experimental research on motivation into effective behavioral interventions for ADHD. This symposium will provide a platform to consolidate a core working group in this field of research.

In this mini-symposium, we will discuss and formulate new strategies and directions for the development, implementation and evaluation of behavioral management strategies/programs that translate experimental findings on motivation in ADHD into clinical practice. Participants will review the current status of parent training programs, experimental behavioral and neuroimaging research on altered reward processing in ADHD, and research trials methodology. Organized and informal discussions will foster collaborations and facilitate concrete planning.

Participation in this symposium is by invitation only.  OIST members who are interested in attending the symposium should contact the organizer (furukawa [at] oist.jp).