This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Cognitive behavioral therapy bested relaxation/education in adults on ADHD meds

Cognitive behavioral therapy improved symptoms in adults being treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

For the randomized controlled trial, researchers compared the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention with relaxation and educational support in 86 adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Symptoms were rated by an assessor at 6- and 12-month follow-up.

Post-treatment scores for cognitive behavioral therapy were lower on both the Clinical Global Impression scale (magnitude -0.0531; 95% CI, -1.01 to -0.05; P=.03) and the ADHD rating scale (magnitude -4.631; 95% CI, -8.30 to -0.963; P=.02).

“This trial successfully documents the usefulness of this type of cognitive behavioral therapy as a next-step strategy for patients with ADHD who are treated with medications, but continue to have residual symptoms,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure:  Research supported by Oxford University Press, Abbott, Alza, Cephalon, Eli Lilly, ElMinda,The Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation, McNeil, Merck, New River, National Institutes of Health, Organon, Pfizer, Janssen-Ortho, McNeil, Novartis, Shire, MGH Academy/Reed Medical Education, Takeda, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Organon (Schering-Plough), Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Organon (Schering-Plough).