A therapy programme may help college students with ADHD manage time and daily life.

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   250 college students with ADHD, aged 18 to 30 and about 20 on average. About two-thirds were women, and they studied at two public universities in the southeastern United States.

2. 02

   What they did

   One group took the ACCESS therapy programme: eight weekly 90-minute group sessions, then one more in the second semester. Mentor sessions were up to 10 in the first semester and up to six in the second. The other group waited and got the programme after two semesters.

3. 03

   What happened

   Compared with those who waited, the therapy group said their time management, motivation and daily life improved more. Grades and credits did not differ, and neither did relationships.

What the study found

1. HelpedTime management

   Students in the ACCESS therapy programme said they managed time better than those who waited.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 250 college students with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for it · they rated themselves

2. HelpedMotivation

   People in the ACCESS therapy programme said they felt more motivated to study than those who waited.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 250 college students with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for it · they rated themselves

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   People in the ACCESS therapy programme said their daily life improved more than those who waited.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 250 college students with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for it · they rated themselves

4. No differenceGoals

   The ACCESS therapy programme did not raise grades or credits earned, compared with those who waited.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 250 college students with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for it · they rated themselves

Source