Telehealth Delivery of the RELAX Intervention for Families of Adolescents Diagnosed with ADHD: Preliminary Treatment Outcomes and Evidence of Acceptability and Feasibility

• Published in: Evidence-based practice in child and adolescent mental health 2023-01, Vol.8 (1), p.24-38
• Main Authors: Breaux, Rosanna, Shroff, Delshad M., Cash, Annah R., Swanson, Courtney S., Carlton, Corinne, Bertollo, Jennifer R., Dahiya, Angela V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2379-4925; 2379-4933
• DOI: 10.1080/23794925.2021.1970053

Regulating Emotions Like An eXpert (RELAX) is a group-based intervention that targets emotion dysregulation (ED) and interpersonal conflict among adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study is a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of RELAX across in-person and telehealth groups, examining differences in treatment outcomes and feedback based on format. Participants included 32 families (18 in-person, 14 telehealth) with adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, ages 11-16. Caregiver-, clinician- and adolescent-report of adolescent ED, adolescent communication, and caregiver-adolescent/family conflict, as well as caregiver self-report of ED and emotion socialization were collected pre- and post-RELAX; caregivers and adolescents completed a feedback survey post-RELAX. Attendance was higher for telehealth (95% vs. 87%), but homework completion was higher for in-person (85% vs. 70%). Caregiver and adolescent feedback indicated very high rates of satisfaction with RELAX, with no significant differences in caregiver satisfaction and minimal differences in adolescent satisfaction between the in-person and telehealth groups. Large improvements were found for caregiver and clinician ratings of adolescent ED (η 2  = .18−.48) and family conflict (η 2  = .26 and .43), moderate decreases in non-supportive emotion socialization were found (η 2  = .11), and small improvements were found for caregiver ED (η 2  = .03). Treatment outcomes were similar for in-person and telehealth groups, with some evidence for larger improvement of adolescent ED for telehealth, whereas larger improvement in family conflict emerged for in-person. RELAX was successfully adapted to be administered via telehealth with similar feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy to the in-person intervention. Efforts to continue disseminating and evaluating ED-focused interventions are warranted and imperative.