Feasibility trial of the dialectical behavior therapy skills training group as add-on treatment for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Feasibility trial of the dialectical behavior therapy skills training group as add-on treatment for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Moritz GR, Pizutti LT, Cancian ACM, Dillenburg MS, de Souza LAS, Lewgoy LB, Basso P, Andreola MMP, Bau CHD, Victor MM, Teche SP, Grevet EH, Philipsen A, Rohde LAP.

J Clin Psychol. 2020 Sep 2.

doi: 10.1002/jclp.23049.

Commentary* by Dr. Margaret Weiss: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets emotional self regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance – does looking at attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity as primary outcomes make sense? ADHD patients suffer from all these issues. To determine if DBT is helpful in individuals with ADHD the study would need to look at the difficulties the intervention addresses.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our aim was to explore the feasibility, and efficacy of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skill Training Group (DBT-ST) as an add-on treatment for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Latin America.

Method: Adults with ADHD (n = 31) with stable medication treatment for ADHD and residual symptoms (ASRS > 20) were randomly assigned to DBT-ST (n = 16) or treatment as usual (TaU; n = 15) for 12 weeks. Feasibility was accessed by attendance and completion rates at 12 weeks. Efficacy outcomes were measured with the ASRS, and performed at 0, 6, 12, and 16 weeks.

Results: The DBT-ST protocol had 81.25% completion rate, with a mean attendance of 87.25% of the sessions. No significant interactions between group and time were detected for outcome measures.

Discussion: The DBT-ST was feasible as add-on treatment for adult patients with ADHD in Latin America. Replicating previous findings, DBT-ST has shown no significantly higher improvement in ADHD symptoms in comparison with TaU. Registered at the Clinical Trials database (NCT03326427).

* Abstracts are selected for their clinical relevance by Dr. Margaret Weiss, Director of Clinical Research, Child Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard University. Her commentary reflects her own opinion.  It is not approved or necessarily representative of the CADDRA board.