Authors
1 MA in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Roudehen, Iran.
2 MA in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Ghazvin Branch, Ghazvin, Iran.
3 MA in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Esfahan Branch, Esfahan, Iran.
4 MA in Educational psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
the present research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of play therapy in reducing the symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a group of primary schoolchildren in Tehran in 2015. the research was conducted in a quasi-experimental framework with pre- and posttest. To select the research sample, at first a total number of 80 first and second grade students in two primary schools in Tehran were screened and then using Conners' Parent Rating Scale, 38 children with ADHD were recognized, among whom 36 applicants were randomly selected and divided into control and experimental groups, each including 18 persons. The experimental group received play therapy for 12 sessions, each lasting an hour while the control group received no treatment. The gathered data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). it was found that the scores for experimental group had significant difference in posttest of Conners' Parent Rating Scale, compared to those for control group (p<0.001).it can be concluded that play therapy could reduce the symptoms of ADHD, learning disabilities and anxiety. Therefore, it is suggested that therapists and psychologists employ the therapy to help patients with ADHD.
Keywords
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