The efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for
core ADHD symptoms is currently receiving a lot of attention
following the findings from the aforementioned meta-analyses
reported by Sonuga-Barke and colleagues (2013). Such findings
may lead some to question whether non-pharmacological interventions
for ADHD are currently targeting ADHD symptoms
sufficiently. There is now growing interest in the development
of interventions that target some of the neuropsychological
impairments thought to underlie ADHD (Halperin & Healey
2011; Halperin et al. 2012). However, at this stage it remains
unclear whether improving cognitive deficits will result in subsequent
improvement in ADHD symptoms. For example, some
evidence suggests that improvement in neuropsychological
functioning after treatment with pharmacotherapy is only
modestly related to symptomatic improvement (Coghill et al.
2007). However, alternative longitudinal research has revealed
that improvement in neuropsychological functioning over
time is associated with attenuated ADHD symptoms
(Rajendran et al. 2013). From a neurodevelopmental perspective,
it is argued that such interventions should be implemented
during the pre-school years in order to interrupt risk pathways
(Sonuga-Barke & Halperin 2010).While the efficacy of preventative
interventions are important and ongoing avenues for
research into non-pharmacological interventions in ADHD,
non-pharmacological interventions that are currently recommended
should not be seen as redundant interventions following
the Sonuga-Barke and colleagues (2013) findings. They are
likely to offer therapeutic benefits to parent and child reaching
beyond ADHD symptoms (Sonuga-Barke et al. 2006) and offer
a suitable alternative intervention when treatment with pharmacotherapy
is not appropriate or sufficient.