Objective: In clinical practice, a growing need exists for effective nonpharmacological treatments of adult ADHD. The authors present results from a cognitive—behaviorally oriented psychological group rehabilitation for adult ADHD. Method: A total of 29 adults with ADHD participated. Rehabilitation consisted of 10 or 11 weekly sessions. Participants were assessed with self-ratings (checklist for ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Beck Depression Inventory II, Symptom Check List-90 [SCL-90], Brown ADD Scale for Adults [BADDS]), and the ratings of their significant others (BADDS) 3 months prior to treatment, at the beginning of treatment, and at the end of treatment. Also, the Wender Utah Rating Scale questionnaire was completed prior to rehabilitation. Results: Rehabilitation resulted in reduced self-reported symptoms in 16 ADHD-related items of SCL-90, BADDS total score, and BADDS subdomains of activation and affect. Conclusion: Results suggest that cognitive—behavioral group rehabilitation can be suitable in treating adult ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(3) 218-226)
Brassett-Harknett, A., & Butler, N. (2007). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: An overview of the etiology and a review of the literature relating to the correlates and lifecourse outcomes for men and women. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(2), 188-210.
4.
Brown, T.E. (1996). Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales for Adolescents and Adults. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
5.
Brown, T. E. (Ed.). (2000). Attention-deficit disorders and comorbidities in children, adolescents, and adults. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
6.
Brown, T.E. (2005). Attention deficit disorder: The unfocused mind in children and adults. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
7.
Derogatis, L.R., Lipman, R.S., & Covi, L. (1973). SCL-90: An outpatient psychiatric rating scale-Preliminary report. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 9(1), 13-28.
8.
Gordon, M., Antshel, K., Faraone, S., Barkley, R., Lewandowski, L., Hudziak, J.J., Biederman, J., & Cunningham, C. (2006). Symptoms versus impairment: The case for respecting DSM-IV's Criterion D. Journal of Attention Disorders, 9(3), 465-475.
9.
Hesslinger, B., Tebartz van Elst, L., Nyberg, E., Dykierek, P., Richter, H., Berner, M., et al. (2002). Psychotherapy of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults-A pilot study using a structured skills training program . European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience , 252(4), 177-184.
10.
Kessler, R.C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C.K., Demler, O., et al. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication . American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 716-723.
11.
Leskelä, M., Vedenpää, A., Vataja, R., Grönroos, N., Chydenius, E., Heikkilä, M., et al. (2007). AD/HD-aikuisten psykologinen ryhmäkuntoutus-Vetäjän käsikirja [Psychological group rehabilitation for adults with AD/HD-Manual] . Espoo, Finland: Rinnekoti Foundation .
12.
Rostain, A.L., & Ramsay, J.R. (2006). A combined treatment approach for adults with ADHD-Results of an open study of 43 patients. Journal of Attention Disorders, 10(2), 150-159.
13.
Safren, S.A., Otto, M.W., Sprich, S., Winett, C.L., Wilens, T.E., & Biederman, J. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy , 43(7), 831-842.
14.
Stevenson, C.S., Whitmont, S., Bornholt, L., Livesey, D., & Stevenson, R.J. (2002). A cognitive remediation programme for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36(5), 610-616.
15.
Ward, M.F., Wender, P.H., & Reimherr, F.W. (1993). The Wender Utah Rating Scale: An aid in the retrospective diagnosis of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 885-890.
16.
Wender, P.H., Wolf, L.E., & Wasserstein, J. (2001). Adults with ADHD. An overview . Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 931, 1-16.
17.
Wilens, T.E., McDermott, S.P., Biederman, J., Abrantes, A., Hahesy, A., & Spencer, T.J. (1999). Cognitive therapy in the treatment of adults with ADHD: A systematic chart review of 26 cases. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 13(3), 215-226.
