The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Issue 6 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Young, Zoe; Moghaddam, Nima; Tickle, Anna
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 24:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 875
• Page End: 888
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: CBT -- ADHD -- RCT -- meta-analysis -- systematic review; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054716664413
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the literature on published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adult ADHD and to establish the effectiveness of CBT in reducing ADHD symptoms.Method: A systematic review of nine RCTs and two subsequent meta-analyses of eight of the studies were conducted.Results: Just nine studies were identified, of generally good quality but with some limitations. Four trials (total N = 160) compared CBT with waiting list controls, and three trials (total N = 191) compared CBT with appropriate active control groups. Meta-analyses showed that CBT was superior to waiting list with a moderate to large effect size (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.21, 1.31], p = .006) and superior to active control groups with a small to moderate effect size (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.14, 0.71], p = .004).Conclusion: These results give support to the efficacy of CBT in reducing symptoms of ADHD post-intervention.