[The impact of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in mothers on the treatment of their ADHD children--review and summary of the study protocol of a randomized controlled multi-centre trial on parent training].

Given its high heritability, ADHD frequently affects both children and their parents. In addition to co-morbid psychiatric disorders, adults with ADHD often complain of psychosocial difficulties, including family conflicts and poor parenting skills. Inconsistent childrearing practices and parent-child conflicts negatively affect the course of ADHD in children. Moreover, in the case of parental ADHD, the efficacy of parent training as part of the treatment for the child's ADHD seems to be reduced. This article presents a review of the impact of ADHD in mothers on the treatment of their ADHD children. Subsequently, the study protocol of a randomized controlled multi-centre trial to resolve the question of the efficacy of combined treatment of mothers and children is outlined. The main objective of the study is to evaluate whether the treatment of maternal ADHD enhances the efficacy of subsequent parent training as part of the treatment of ADHD in their children. 144 mother-child-pairs (both affected by ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria) are allocated to the trial. Mothers are randomized either to the treatment group (cognitive-behavioural group psychotherapy in combination with open methylphenidate treatment (Medikinet retard) titrated upward individually until the maximum dose of 1.3 mg/kg/day) or to the control group (supportive counselling). After 13 weeks of treatment individualised parent training is administered to both groups of mothers. Treatment comparisons of the primary endpoint (externalizing symptoms in the children) will be performed within a linear regression model.