The Effectiveness of Drama Therapy Based on Mentalization on Sustained Attention of Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract The purpose of this research was the effectiveness of mentalization-based drama therapy on the sustained attention of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all students aged 9 to 11 years old with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Zanjan city in 2023. The sample size includes 30 subjects (15 subject in the experimental group and 15 subject in the control group) from the statistical population were selected by purposeful sampling and were placed in two control and experimental groups. For the experimental group, the developed drama-therapy package based on mentalization was implemented, while the control group remained on the waiting list. The research tools included Connors Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Questionnaire (2007) and integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (1995). The results showed that the drama therapy package based on mentalization had a significant effect on improving sustained attention in the post-test and follow-up stages. The findings of this research provide useful information regarding the drama therapy package based on mentalization, and counselors and psychologists can use this intervention to improve sustained attention in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Keywords: drama therapy, mentalization, emotion regulation, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Extended Abstract Introduction Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Sustained attention deficit is one of the major cognitive deficits of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder that continues into adulthood (Ge et al., 2013). Sustained attention is a key cognitive ability that enables people to maintain their focus, control stimuli, not be easily distracted, and it improves significantly during the development of a person (Gallen et al., 2023). Sustained attention functions are a necessary condition for other abilities; without sustained attention, critical information for a subsequent behavior cannot be represented in the mind and will not be processed, therefore, deficits in sustained attention hinder cognitive performance, such as learning and memory (Fortenbaugh et al., 2017). Therefor