Time managementPaper28 Oct 2026

Pills added to group therapy may speed up gains in ADHD symptoms.

HelpedThe short version

Pills plus therapy left people with fewer symptoms than therapy alone, and this held at six months.

The study

Who took part
88 adults with ADHD in Montreal, Canada, aged 18 to 60. Most were men (62 of the 88), and average age was about 34 in one group and about 36 in the other.
What they did
Everyone had 12 weekly group sessions of therapy, which covered topics such as planning and challenging unhelpful thoughts. They also had phone and in-person coaching. One group also started stimulant pills before the sessions, and the dose was raised until it stopped helping.
What happened
After therapy, people on pills rated their symptoms lower than the other group, and the gap lasted six months. Organisation and self-esteem also improved more with pills by the end, but by six months the organisation gap was no longer clear. Anxiety, depression and daily life did not differ.

HelpedOther outcomes
Pills plus therapy left people with fewer symptoms than therapy alone, and this held at six months.
Small randomised trial of 88 adults with ADHD in Montreal · vs people on therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out
HelpedTime management
Pills plus therapy made people more organised than therapy alone, but not six months on.
Small randomised trial of 88 adults with ADHD in Montreal · vs people on therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out
HelpedOther outcomes
Pills plus therapy raised self-esteem more than therapy alone, but later gaps were small.
Small randomised trial of 88 adults with ADHD in Montreal · vs people on therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out