Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treatment of Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Summary

The purpose of the project is to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with and without stimulant medication and compare it to medication alone. Subjects will be randomly assigned to stimulant medication only, CBT only and combined CBT and stimulant medication group. Patients will be evaluated at baseline, following mediation optimization (for medicated groups), following 12 months of treatment, after 3 months of follow up, and after 6 months of follow up. The investigators hypothesize that the combined group will have the best outcome at all evaluation points. ADHD in adults is associated with significant morbidity and impaired academic, occupational, social, and emotional functioning. Developing optimal treatment approaches for this population is key in improving their functioning.

Timeline

Start

2006-04

Primary completion

2018-10

Completion

2018-10

Publications

• Background Kessler RC, Adler L, Barkley R, Biederman J, Conners CK, Demler O, Faraone SV, Greenhill LL, Howes MJ, Secnik K, Spencer T, Ustun TB, Walters EE, Zaslavsky AM. The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;163(4):716-23. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716.
• Background Safren SA. Cognitive-behavioral approaches to ADHD treatment in adulthood. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;67 Suppl 8:46-50.
• Background Wilens TE, Spencer TJ, Biederman J. A review of the pharmacotherapy of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Atten Disord. 2002 Mar;5(4):189-202. doi: 10.1177/108705470100500401.
• Background Bramham J, Young S, Bickerdike A, Spain D, McCartan D, Xenitidis K. Evaluation of group cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2009 Mar;12(5):434-41. doi: 10.1177/1087054708314596. Epub 2008 Feb 29.
• Background Gualtieri CT, Ondrusek MG, Finley C. Attention deficit disorders in adults. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1985;8(4):343-56. doi: 10.1097/00002826-198512000-00005.
• Background Knouse LE, Cooper-Vince C, Sprich S, Safren SA. Recent developments in the psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. Expert Rev Neurother. 2008 Oct;8(10):1537-48. doi: 10.1586/14737175.8.10.1537.
• Background Mattes JA, Boswell L, Oliver H. Methylphenidate effects on symptoms of attention deficit disorder in adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984 Nov;41(11):1059-63. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1983.01790220049008.
• Background Safren SA, Sprich S, Mimiaga MJ, Surman C, Knouse L, Groves M, Otto MW. Cognitive behavioral therapy vs relaxation with educational support for medication-treated adults with ADHD and persistent symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010 Aug 25;304(8):875-80. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.1192.
• Background Solanto MV, Marks DJ, Wasserstein J, Mitchell K, Abikoff H, Alvir JM, Kofman MD. Efficacy of meta-cognitive therapy for adult ADHD. Am J Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;167(8):958-68. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09081123. Epub 2010 Mar 15.
• Background Spencer T, Biederman J, Wilens T, Doyle R, Surman C, Prince J, Mick E, Aleardi M, Herzig K, Faraone S. A large, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of methylphenidate in the treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Mar 1;57(5):456-63. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.043.
• Background Weiss, G., & Hechtman, L. (1993). Hyperactive children grown up : ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
• Background Barkley, R. A., Murphy, K. R., & Firscher, M. (2008). ADHD in adults: What the Science Says. New York: Guilford Press
• Results Hechtman, L., Treatment of adults with adhd: Cbt only versus medication and cbt, in Third International Congress on ADHD - From Childhood to Adolescence. 2011: Berlin, Germany.

Drugs

Indications