The impact of causal attributions on treatment choice acceptability for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The causal attributions for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the acceptability of two treatments: behavior therapy intervention and a medication intervention were investigated. Casual attributions were determined by responses on the Behavior Attribution Measure. The Treatment Acceptability Report Form-Revised was used to measure acceptability of treatment. Three hundred and forty three undergraduate students completed the questionnaires, before and after a written causal attribution for ADHD was provided. Results indicated that there were no significant changes in causal attributions, however, there were changes in the acceptability of medication treatment following a biogenetic explanation of the etiology of the ADHD symptoms.