This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, for adults with ADHD. The authors found nine trials and combined eight of them into two analyses. The studies came from seven countries and included 386 adults in total (173 male, 213 female). All were older than 18 and had ADHD by some diagnostic standard, and most were also taking ADHD medication. The average ages in the studies ran from about 33 to 46 years.
In five studies that compared CBT with a waiting list, CBT reduced ADHD symptoms more, and the pooled effect was moderate to large (SMD 0.76). In three studies that compared CBT with other active treatments, CBT still did better, with a smaller effect (SMD 0.43). The advantage held up when the authors re-ran the analysis without the weakest studies and without studies that relied only on self-report.
The authors noted several limits. There were only a few studies. Several did not show true random assignment, and therapists and patients could not be kept unaware of the treatment. There was not enough consistent data to test whether the benefit lasted after treatment, or whether it changed daily functioning, other conditions, or quality of life.
Source: Young Z, Moghaddam N, Tickle A. The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Attention Disorders (2016). doi:10.1177/1087054716664413
[!note] Human review required before publishing — this is a Trusted claim.