Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health issues among children, with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 5.3%, and some estimates even higher, around 7.1%. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5; APA, 2013), ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that impairs functioning and is more frequently diagnosed in boys.
International clinical guidelines recommend interventions for ADHD that include pharmacological treatments (stimulants, non-stimulants), non-pharmacological treatments (e.g., group or individual behavioral parent training, cognitive-behavioral therapy), and/or combined treatments (pharmacological treatment plus behavioral parent training).
Although scientifically validated treatments for ADHD exist, significant problems remain in several key areas. Access to scientifically validated treatments is limited, influenced by factors such as costs, shortage of specialists, stigma associated with diagnosis and psychotherapy/psychiatric treatment, and low mental health literacy.
Through this project, we aim to improve access to evidence-based interventions for parents of preschool children with elevated ADHD symptoms in Romania by providing a digital solution that can overcome existing barriers to mental health services. This project will also make significant contributions to future research directions on personalized Internet-delivered interventions for parents of children with ADHD.
Project Title: Optimizing parental digital mental health interventions for ADHD: insights from network analysis
Contracting Authority: Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation
Project Type: Research Projects to Support Young Independent Teams
Project code: PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-0894, număr contract 68TE ⁄ 08.01.2025
Host Institution: Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, through the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy/ The International Institute for Advanced Studies in Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
Project duration: January 2025 – December 2026
Project director: Associate professor Costina-Ruxandra Poetar
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in children. Behavioral parent training is considered first-line treatment for children with ADHD according to clinical guidelines. However, there are numerous barriers that limit parents’ access to evidence-based treatments.
The aim of this project is to develop and test the efficacy of a personalized Internet-delivered intervention for parents of preschool children with elevated ADHD symptoms.
Costina-Ruxandra Poetar is an Associate professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University. She obtained her PhD in Psychology in 2016 within the Doctoral School “Evidence-Based Assessment and Psychological Interventions”, with the thesis entitled “Transdiagnostic Interventions Facilitated Through Technology.”
Her research interests include evidence-based psychological interventions for children, adolescents, and adults, family and couple psychology, and technology-delivered interventions (Internet-delivered interventions, computerized programs, mobile phone applications, and interventions delivered through virtual reality).
Anca Dobrean is a professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, as well as a senior clinical psychologist and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist licensed to practice by the College of Psychologists of Romania.
Her current research interests focus on identifying mechanisms that may explain mental disorders in children and adolescents, particularly those associated with anxiety and depression, as well as testing innovative technology-based intervention methods.
In this project, Anca holds the position of experienced researcher.
Ștefan Marian is an Assistant professor in the Department of Psychology from West University of Timișoara. He completed his PhD in psychology at West University of Timișoara in 2023, defending his thesis “The role of negative automatic thoughts in the network of anxiety and depression symptoms”.
His work mainly revolves around applying network analysis to psychopathology and clinical psychology. In his works, Ștefan tackled such subjects as depression, anxiety, and negative automatic thoughts. Other works of Ștefan involve studying how personality descriptors shape the impression formation about a person’s neuroticism and description, and on the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory.
In this project, Ștefan is a postdoctoral researcher.
Livu Fodor is an Assistant professor within the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and a member of the International Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, both at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
His research interests include meta-analysis, network approaches to mental disorders, and advanced research methods for evaluating the effectiveness of technology-augmented psychological interventions (e.g., virtual reality, online/offline PC and mobile platforms) in the treatment of mental disorders.
In this project, Liviu holds the position of postdoctoral researcher.
Tudor Văidean is a resident physician specializing in Child Psychiatry, involved in the assessment and management of a wide range of mental health conditions among children and adolescents.
His main research interests focus on identifying and studying new potential markers associated with psychopathological manifestations.
In this project, Tudor holds the position of doctoral researcher.
Corina-Ioana Ievuța-Bota is a student in the Master’s program in Psychological Techniques for Behavior Control and Human Potential Development and a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
Her current research interests focus on loneliness among young adults as a consequence of school bullying, as well as the delivery of scientifically validated interventions online for various disorders.
In this project, Corina serves as a volunteer research assistant.
Irina Mazilu is a student in the Master’s program in Clinical Psychology, Psychological Counseling, and Psychotherapy, and a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
Her current research interests focus on scientifically validated interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ADHD, as well as for borderline personality disorder.
In this project, Irina serves as a volunteer research assistant.
Andreea-Bianca Buleică is a second-year student at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
Her research interests focus on how parent-child interactions affect children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development, including the impact of parenting styles on development. She is also passionate about promoting psychoeducation, which serves as an informational support tool in everyday life for parents, teachers, and anyone interested in engaging with such materials.
In this project, Bianca serves as a volunteer research assistant.
Mihaela Celus is a second-year student in the Psychology program at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
Her current interests include applied clinical psychology, psychoeducation, mental health, gender equality, and educational intervention for children with special educational needs and autism spectrum disorders.
In this project, Mihaela serves as a volunteer research assistant.
Scientific output
Publications
Manuscripts in the process of publication
Nistor, A. & Poetar, C.R. (manuscript submitted for publication). A systematic review of ecological momentary assessment studies on ADHD.
Poetar, C.R., Marian, Ș., Dobrean, A., Predescu, E. & Șipoș, R. (manuscript in preparation). Mapping momentary interactions between parents’ mental health, parenting practices, and child ADHD symptoms through idiographic networks.
International conference presentations
National conference presentations
News – ADHDNetProject 3-6 September 2025, Glasgow We are pleased to announce the opening of the enrollment period for the study: “Mapping Momentary Interactions Between Parental Cognitions, Emotional Stress, Parenting Practices, and Children’s ADHD Symptoms Using Idiographic Networks.” Research Objective: This study aims to analyze, in real time, how parental
News – ADHDNetProject 3-6 September 2025, Glasgow, Scotland, UK The results from the ADHDnet project have been accepted for presentation at the EABCT 2025 Congress. Poetar, C.R., Crișan, M., Dobrean, A., Șipoș, R., Predescu, E. Mapping the Interactions Between Parents’ Psychological Distress, Parenting Practices, and ADHD Symptoms in Children
News – ADHDNetProject 7-9 May 2025, Bucharest, Romania Poetar, C., Munteanu-Forij, O., Șipoș, R., & Predescu, E. Cartografierea interacțiunilor dintre simptomele de ADHD ale părinților, distresul lor emoțional, practicile parentale și simptomele de ADHD ale copiilor Ievuța-Bota, C.I. & Poetar, C.R. Dezvoltarea și fezabilitatea ADHDnet: o intervenție livrată prin intermediul
News – ADHDNetProject 8-11 May 2025, Prague, Czech Republic The ADHDnet project was presented at the 10th World Congress on ADHD as part of the sections on Non-Pharmacological Treatments III and Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents. Poetar, C.R., Dobrean, A., Șipoș, R. & Predescu, E. ADHDnet: Development of an Internet-delivered
Project director
