Chiropractic treatment for ADHD
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After her daughter was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Fay Karpouzis began investigating alternative therapies. Over a decade on she is now conducting research into the benefits of chiropractic treatment.
ADHD is considered to be one of the most common disruptive behaviour disorders of childhood. The prevalence rate is between 3 per cent to 5 per cent in the United States and 11 per cent in Australia.
Children with ADHD frequently experience difficulties in academic achievement, behavioural control and find it difficult to establish positive relationships. Much attention has been devoted to the development of treatment and management strategies with literature to date supporting a multidisciplinary management approach for the best outcome.
"My daughter with ADHD has taught me a lot because I had to run around and look for answers," explains Karpouzis. "I wasn't happy to go down the medication path as my philosophy lies in complementary and alternative modalities. She benefited from many treatment programs so I thought it would be great to conduct some research and give another piece of the puzzle to parents."
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
Karpouzis is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial to investigate the clinical outcomes of NET on children with clinically diagnosed ADHD. Through this technique chiropractors look at how a person's structure, emotions and thoughts affect their wellbeing and behaviour patterns.
Eighty-six five to twelve year old children who have been diagnosed with ADHD by a paediatrician or clinical psychologist are involved in the study with four chiropractors from across Sydney providing free treatments.
The participants have been split into three groups. One group is a control group who are continuing with their current treatment program. The second group is a treatment group where the NET has been added to their current medical regime. The third group is a placebo group who are being given a pretend treatment with no therapeutic value.
"As a mother and clinician I found this very hard, but as a researcher the long term benefits outweigh the short term frustrations," says Karpouzis. "If we can show the treatment group is getting better results than the placebo and control group, then we have an effective protocol."
Before the children commence treatment their parents and teachers complete a questionnaire and then again after the first month of treatment. The parents and teachers are not aware of which group the child is in which is important so that they can answer the questionnaire without bias.
Karpouzis is working on this project together with supervisors Associate Professors Henry Pollard and Rod Bonello as well as a psychologist who interprets the results and a statistician who does the number crunching.
Results so far
"At the moment we have some preliminary data and so far we are looking good," says Karpouzis. "The placebo and control group have similar results and those undergoing treatment are getting positive results."
The last child will finish the study in March next year and Karpouzis hopes to complete her thesis by July.
For further information on the randomised control trial contact Karpouzis' supervisors Associate Professor Henry Pollard hpollard@optushome.com or Associate Professor Rod Bonello rod.bonello@mq.edu.au