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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Jul 25:11:116.
doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-11-116.

Cognitive behaviour therapy in medication-treated adults with ADHD and persistent symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Brynjar Emilsson  1 , Gisli Gudjonsson, Jon F Sigurdsson, Gisli Baldursson, Emil Einarsson, Halldora Olafsdottir, Susan Young
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cognitive behaviour therapy in medication-treated adults with ADHD and persistent symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Brynjar Emilsson et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood is not fully treated by psychopharmacological treatment alone. The main aim of the current study was to evaluate a newly developed cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) based group programme, the Reasoning and Rehabilitation for ADHD Youths and Adults (R&R2ADHD), using a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: 54 adults with ADHD already receiving psychopharmacological treatment were randomly allocated to an experimental (CBT/MED) treatment condition (n = 27) and a 'treatment as usual' (TAU/MED) control condition (n = 27) that did not receive the CBT intervention. The outcome measures were obtained before treatment (baseline), after treatment and at three month follow-up and included ADHD symptoms and impairments rated by independent assessors, self-reported current ADHD symptoms, and comorbid problems.

Results: The findings suggested medium to large treatment effects for ADHD symptoms, which increased further at three month follow-up. Additionally, comorbid problems also improved at follow-up with large effect sizes.

Conclusions: The findings give support for the effectiveness of R&R2ADHD in reducing ADHD symptoms and comorbid problems, an improving functions associated with impairment. The implications are that the benefits of R&R2ADHD are multifaceted and that combined psychopharmacological and CBT based treatments may add to and improve pharmacological interventions.

Trial registration: ACTRN12611000533998 (http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12611000533998.aspx).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of patient participations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Independent evaluator rated changes in unadjusted means on the K-SADS ADHD measure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Self-reported changes in unadjusted means on the Barkley ADHD Current Symptom Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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