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Conference paper

CBT/DBT SKILLS TRAINING FOR ADULTS WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

Pierre Cole ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Sebastien Weibel ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Rosetta Nicastro ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Roland Hasler ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Alexandre Dayer ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Jean-Michel Aubry ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Paco Prada ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Nader Perroud ; Service of psychiatric specialties, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland


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Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with marked impairments in familial, social, and
professional functioning. Although stimulant treatments can be effective in adult ADHD, some patients will respond poorly or not at
all to medication. Previous studies demonstrated that cognitive behavioural therapy- (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy- (DBT)
oriented interventions are effective in reducing the burden of the disease, which is mainly marked by depression, interpersonal
difficulties, low self-esteem, and low quality of life. In order to determine the effectiveness of this intervention, we assessed the
benefits of a CBT/DBT programme to reduce residual symptoms and help patients improve their quality of life.
Subjects and methods: 49 ADHD-patients, poor responders to medication, were enrolled in a one-year programme where they
received individual therapy, associated with weekly sessions of group therapy with different modules: Mindfulness, Emotion
Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Distress Tolerance, Impulsivity/Hyperactivity and Attention. Each subject was assessed
at baseline, at months 3 and 6, and at the end of the treatment for ADHD severity (ASRS v1.1), depression severity (BDI-II),
hopelessness (BHS), mindfulness skills (KIMS), anger expression and control (STAXI), impulsivity (BIS-11), quality of life
(WHOQOL-BREF), and social functioning (QFS). The 49 ADHD patients were compared with 13 ADHD subjects on a waiting list.
Linear mixed models were used to measure response to treatment.
Results: Overall, the psychotherapeutic treatment was associated with significant improvements in almost all dimensions. The
most significant changes were observed for BDI-II (b=-0.30; p<0.0001), ASRS total score (b=-0.16; p<0.0001), and KIMS AwA
(b=0.21; p<0.0001), with moderate to large effect sizes. Compared with the waiting list controls, ADHD patients showed a better,
albeit non-significant, pattern of response.
Conclusions: Individual and structured psycho-educational DBT/CBT groups support existing data suggesting that a structured
psychotherapeutic approach is useful for patients who respond partially or not at all to drug therapy.

Keywords

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); dialectical behavior therapy (DBT); cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); mindfulness; skills training group

Hrčak ID:

264910

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/264910

Publication date:

30.8.2016.

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