[Effects and mechanisms of psychotherapy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults]

Abstract

The multicentre network being funded in the context of the program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on psychotherapy research is investigating effects and mechanisms of psychotherapy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. Single projects are focussing (1) on the investigation of the efficacy of psychotherapy, stimulant medication, a combination of both and a control condition for the treatment of ADHD in adults, (2) on the investigation of the enhancement of the efficacy of parent training for children's ADHD by a precedent treatment of ADHD in affected mothers and (3) on the study of associations between neurobiological markers (neuroimaging, genetic variations) and treatment outcome. In the clinical trials modern standards of psychotherapy research are taken into account (e.g. sample size based on power calculation, randomized controlled trial, use of treatment manuals, measures to ensure treatment fidelity, blind observer rating of outcome, intention to treat analysis). Results are supposed to strengthen the evidence base of the treatment of ADHD and to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of therapeutic change. On the one hand our network reinforces the co-operation of general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD over the lifespan, on the other hand the association between clinical and fundamental research is strengthened.