Structured Group Psychotherapy in Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

TLDR

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious mental disorder that often persists into adulthood. The study evaluated the structured group program’s effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability in a multicenter setting and highlighted the need for further controlled trials. The program consisted of 13 two‑hour weekly sessions delivered to 72 adults across four therapy sites. The program produced significant, well‑tolerated improvements in ADHD, depressive symptoms, and personal health, was independent of treatment site or medication, and was perceived as most helpful for behavioral analysis, mindfulness, and emotion regulation, indicating therapist‑independent, disorder‑specific effects.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious mental disorder that often persists in adulthood. In a pilot study, a structured skills training group program for adult ADHD led to significant symptomatic improvements. The present study evaluated the program's effectiveness, feasibility, and patient acceptability in a multicenter setting. Seventy-two adult ADHD patients were assigned to 13 two-hour weekly sessions at 4 different therapy sites. The therapy was well tolerated and led to significant improvements of ADHD, depressive symptoms, and personal health status (p < 0.001). The factors treatment site and medication did not contribute to the overall improvement. Patients regarded the program topics "behavioral analyses," "mindfulness," and "emotion regulation" as the most helpful. In this multicenter study, the therapy program showed therapist-independent effects and seemed to be disorder-specific. This warrants the effort of organizing further controlled studies.