Study to investigate a stepped care program for children, adolescents and young adults with ADHD.
ESCAlife (Evidence-Based stepped Care of ADHD along the Lifespan) is a multicentre research project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. ESCAlife comprises stepped-care designs in different age groups (preschool age, school age, adolescents, adults) each focusing on the different special needs in the respective life phases.
Methodology
The aim of ESCAlife (and ESCAlate) is to improve treatment success for ADHD patients on an individualised stepwise intensifying treatment approach based on evidence-based behavioural interventions in patients with ADHD. The selection of treatment methods take into account the nature and severity of the symptomatology, as well as the response to treatment methods. In addition to the actual therapy, the aim is to determine biological parameters that can be used to estimate the success of treatment in advance.
The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy is involved in three of the four sub-studies: ESCApreschool (3;0 to 6;11 years), ESCAschool (6- to 12-years) and ESCAadol (12- to 17 -years).