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Cognitive behavioural therapy for ADHD in adults: systematic review and meta-analyses

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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

Abstract

Systematically review and analyse the efficacy of CBT versus treatment as usual in adults with ADHD. The literature was systematically searched ending the 28 March 2014. Standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. CBT was efficacious in reducing symptoms of ADHD (SDM −1.0, 95 % CI −1.5 to −0.5) when evaluated by the patients, but not when evaluated by a clinician. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly reduced when self-reported (SMD −1.0, 95 % CI −1.6 to −0.5 and −1.0, 95 % CI −1.3 to −0.3, respectively) and evaluated by a clinician (SMD −0.9, 95 % CI −1.7 to −0.2 and −0.9, 95 % CI −1.6 to −0.1). The clinical global impression scores improved more in the group randomised to CBT (−1.0; 95 % CI −1.6 to −0.4). CBT seems efficacious in some domains affecting adult patients with ADHD, but needs further evaluation.

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Acknowledgments

A special thank you to the research librarian Helene Sognstrup for carrying out the systematic searches of the literature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Mølleparkvej 10, 9000, Ålborg, Denmark

    Christina Mohr Jensen

  2. Department of Communication and Psychology, Center for Developmental and Applied Psychological Science, Aalborg University, Kroghstræde 3, 9000, Ålborg, Denmark

    Christina Mohr Jensen

  3. Clinic for ADHD, Distric Psychiatry Central Denmark Region, Central Denmark Region, Søndersøparken 2, 8800, Viborg, Denmark

    Birgitte Lind Amdisen

  4. Rigshospitalet Department 7811, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, København Ø, Denmark

    Karsten Juhl Jørgensen

  5. Psychiatric Hospital Slagelse, Psychiatry Vest, Region Zealand Mental Health Services, Copenhagen University, Slagelse, Denmark

    Sidse M. H. Arnfred

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  1. Christina Mohr Jensen
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  2. Birgitte Lind Amdisen
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  3. Karsten Juhl Jørgensen
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  4. Sidse M. H. Arnfred
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Correspondence to Christina Mohr Jensen.

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Conflict of interest

BLA, SMHA, and KJJ have no conflicts of interest. CMJ has been a speaker for HB Pharma.

Author and contributors

All authors contributed to designing the study. CMJ, BLA, and SMHA took part in screening and including studies, KJJ analysed the data, and all authors contributed to writing and editing the paper.

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Jensen, C.M., Amdisen, B.L., Jørgensen, K.J. et al. Cognitive behavioural therapy for ADHD in adults: systematic review and meta-analyses. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 8, 3–11 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-016-0188-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-016-0188-3

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