Effects of Group Psychotherapy, Individual Counseling, Methylphenidate, and Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high prevalence in adulthood. There is a recognized need to assess the efficacy of psychotherapy in adult ADHD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral group psychotherapy (GPT) compared with individual clinical management (CM) and that of methylphenidate hydrochloride compared with placebo. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial of 18- to 58-year-old outpatients with ADHD from 7 German study centers. Patients were recruited between January 2007 and August 2010, treatment was finalized in August 2011, and final follow-up assessments occurred in March 2013. INTERVENTIONS: Sessions of GPT and CM were held weekly for the first 12 weeks and monthly thereafter (9 months). Patients received either methylphenidate or placebo for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the change in the ADHD Index of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale from baseline to the end of the 3-month intensive treatment (blinded observer ratings). Secondary outcomes included ADHD ratings after 1 year, blinded observer ratings using the Clinical Global Impression Scale, and self-ratings of depression. RESULTS: Among 1480 prescreened patients, 518 were assessed for eligibility, 433 were centrally randomized, and 419 were analyzed as randomized. After 3 months, the ADHD Index all-group baseline mean of 20.6 improved to adjusted means of 17.6 for GPT and 16.5 for CM, with no significant difference between groups. Methylphenidate (adjusted mean, 16.2) was superior to placebo (adjusted mean, 17.9) (difference, -1.7; 97.5% CI, -3.0 to -0.4; P = .003). After 1 year, treatment effects remained essentially stable. Descriptive analyses showed that methylphenidate was superior to placebo in patients assigned to GPT (difference, -1.7; 95% CI, -3.2 to -0.1; P = .04) or CM (difference, -1.7; 95% CI, -3.3 to -0.2; P = .03). Regarding depression, no significant differences were found. In contrast, GPT was superior to CM for all visits in the Clinical Global Impression global assessment of effectiveness. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Highly structured group intervention did not outperform individual CM with regard to the primary outcome. Psychological interventions resulted in better outcomes during a 1-year period when combined with methylphenidate as compared with placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN54096201.

Child impact on family functioning: a multivariate analysis in multiplex families with children and mothers both affected by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD seriously impacts family functioning, even the more in families with simultaneous parental and child ADHD. The aim of the study was to examine associations between family impact of child ADHD and child, mother and family characteristics in multiplex families with children and mothers both affected by ADHD. One hundred and forty-four mother-child pairs were assessed (children: mean age 9.4 ± 1.7 years, 73.6 % male). Family impact of child ADHD was rated by mothers using the Family Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with child and maternal psychopathology and basic family characteristics such as employment, partnership status and number of children as predictors and FIQ subscores as criteria. Rates of variance explained by family variables were 49 % for negative feelings towards the child, 37 % for impact on partnership, 31 % for impact on social life and 27 % for impact on finances (p < .001, respectively). Pearson correlations with family impact were especially strong for child externalizing symptoms, maternal ADHD and co-morbid symptoms of the mother. The strongest independent predictor was oppositional defiant child behaviour. In ADHD multiplex families, mothers' perception of the impact of an ADHD child on its family can be explained to a substantial degree by child psychopathology, maternal psychopathology and basic family characteristics. Although a cross-sectional design does not allow for causal interpretations, the findings of this study offer important targets for the treatment of ADHD in a family context pointing to the need for assessing and treating parental mental health and co-morbid symptoms besides ADHD core symptoms.

A randomized controlled multicenter trial on the multimodal treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: enrollment and characteristics of the study sample.

Adult ADHD is a frequent psychiatric disorder affecting relevant aspects of an individual's life. The aim of our study group was to carry out the first randomized controlled multicenter study to evaluate the effects of psychotherapy compared to clinical management in combination with psychopharmacological treatment with methylphenidate (MPH) or placebo (Plac) in a factorial four-arm design. Here, we present the enrollment procedure and description of adult ADHD patients recruited for the trial. Four hundred and thirty-three adult patients with ADHD were randomized at seven study sites in Germany to four treatment conditions: manualized dialectical-behavioral-therapy-based group psychotherapy (GPT) plus MPH or Plac, or clinical management (CM) including supportive counseling plus MPH or Plac with weekly sessions in the first 12 weeks and monthly sessions thereafter. Assessment for eligibility included standardized scales and instruments. After prescreening of 1,480 patients, 518 were evaluated for trial participation and 433 were randomized. The main reasons for prescreening failure were lack of interest in participating (n = 205), difficulties in meeting the time and effort requirements for participation (n = 186), and contraindications for psychopharmacological treatment with MPH (n = 194). The full analysis set (FAS) comprised 419 adult ADHD patients (mean age 35.2 years, males/females 1:1). Fifty-seven percent of the patients suffered from the combined ADHD subtype. Prevalence of at least one current or lifetime axis-I comorbidity was 66 %. Axis-II comorbidity rates was 18 % (patients with comorbid borderline and antisocial personality disorders were excluded). Our network was able to recruit an adult ADHD sample essentially comparable to community samples. A selection bias was created by excluding patients unable or unwilling to participate, or who had somatic and psychiatric contraindications for stimulant treatment (Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN54096201, FUNDING: Federal Ministry of Education and Research 01GV0606).