Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ecosystemic Play Therapy and Short- term Play Therapy in Reducing Symptoms of Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of this research was comparison of the effectiveness of ecosystemic play therapy and short- term play therapy in reducing symptoms of attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder. The statistical population of this study was all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Tehran. The research method was single baseline case study. Twelve children with symptoms of attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder were selected using purposeful sampling. Then participants were treated as ecosystem therapy and short-term play therapy. Participants completed parent Conner’s questionnaires, Child Behavior checklist and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM- IV. Treatment program was fallow- up period of 3 months subsequent to treatment termination. The data were analyzed using two-way comparisons of similar subjects from two groups of ecosystem therapy games and short-term play therapy. Result showed that the effectiveness of ecosystemic play therapy in reducing the symptoms of attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder is higher than short term play therapy. Therefore, according to the results of the study, the effectiveness of the ecosystemic play therapy is higher than short- term play therapy. In addition, the results of this study showed that ecosystemic play therapy and short-term play therapy can be used as an appropriate intervention in reducing the symptoms of ADHD.