Psychological and Psychosocial Interventions in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Pharmacological treatments are primary for ADHD, but psychological and psychosocial interventions are crucial for persistent symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating psychological and psychosocial interventions for ADHD treatment.
• To assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological approaches in managing ADHD symptoms across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across eight databases in March 2022.
• Keywords included "ADHD" and "therapy," "psychological treatment," "psychosocial treatment," and "CBT," as well as "attention deficit" variations.
• Forty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing both pediatric and adult populations.

Main Results:

• Psychosocial interventions were analyzed in 45 studies, with 51% focusing on children/adolescents and 49% on adults.
• A significant improvement in ADHD symptoms was observed in 87% of studies where psychosocial interventions were added to medication.
• These findings highlight the synergistic effect of combining medication with psychosocial support.

Conclusions:

• Psychosocial interventions, when integrated with medical management, substantially contribute to effective ADHD treatment.
• There is a clear need for region-specific research, particularly in Turkiye, to investigate the efficacy of these interventions.
• The review underscores the importance of a multimodal treatment approach for ADHD.