(August 24, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

Adding cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to drug treatment can help provide relief for adults with ADHD whose symptoms are not adequately controlled with medication alone, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Behaviors and problems that are commonly seen in adults with ADHD include:

•    Anxiety

•    Chronic lateness and forgetfulness

•    impulsiveness

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital randomly assigned over 80 adults who were taking medication for ADHD but who were still suffering from troublesome symptoms to receive 12 sessions of CBT or 12 sessions of relaxation plus educational support. The CBT focused on-education about ADHD, training in organizing and planning, developing skills to reduce distractibility, learning to rethink troublesome situations, and relapse prevention. The study was conducted from November 2004 through June 2008, with follow-up through July 2009.

Once treatment was complete, those who underwent CBT had significantly better scores on a rating scale that measured ADHD symptoms as well as the overall functioning rated by a clinical expert. Based on the results of the ADHD rating scale, about two-thirds of those who received CBT but only about one-third of those who received relaxation and educational support responded to treatment. Throughout treatment, patients’ self-reports of how they were doing were better for those receiving CBT than those receiving relaxation plus educational support. Those who derived benefits from CBT maintained these benefits when followed-up after 6 and 12 months.

We spoke with Dr. Steven Safren, PhD, ABPP, one of the investigators of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today’s research highlights the potential benefits of CBT for the treatment of persistent ADHD in adults.