Living With Adhd Case Study

In this case study we follow Liam, a five-year-old boy from England through the BBC documentary “Living with ADHD”. Liam displays most of the symptoms of ADHD, specifically the hyperactive-impulsivity dimension of the disorder. By the end of the documentary we learn that Liam has mild ADHD and ODD. When analyzing Liam’s behavior through the cognitive-behavioral theory I will be accessing Liam’s cognitive and behavior during a specific event that is in the documentary. While accessing that specific event I will be identifying what triggers Liam to act a certain way, what the maladaptive schema, the automatic response Liam has, how Liam copes and Liam’s self regulation. The documentary shows a clip of Liam and his family (Mom, Dad and baby brother) taking a shopping trip. While shopping the family is in a very busy area of town and it is necessary that Liam holds his moms hand, but he refuses. Multiple times Liam is told by his mom to not run ahead of the family and to hold her hand but he just will not …show more content…
The trigger in this situation is Liam’s mother constantly telling him he is doing something wrong. This trigger causes Liam’s automatic response to act out and be even more defiant by running even farther from his mother. A common behavioral pattern in children with ADHD is to feel angry and upset after a parent is harsh, because the child feels angry and upset they will act out even more, this is an example of a maladaptive schema. Liam copes and self regulates by following the direction of his mother in a specific way. His mother wanted him to hold her hand but because his mother is directing the action Liam does not want to do it her way, he instead goes and holds the stroller his dad is pushing. He follows his moms direction by not running ahead and holding something while still controlling the situation by choosing to hold the stroller and not his moms