A skills programme for ADHD may cut symptoms and improve organising

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   43 adults with ADHD in New South Wales, Australia took part: 22 in the programme group, 21 on the waiting list. There were 29 men and 14 women, averaging about 36 years old, and over 75% had a diagnosis before the study.

2. 02

   What they did

   The programme group had eight weekly two-hour group sessions led by a psychologist. Each person did homework exercises from a workbook, with a support person to help them keep on track. The waiting list started the programme after eight weeks.

3. 03

   What happened

   The programme group improved more than the waiting group on symptoms and organising, and felt less anger in the moment. By the end, 36% had cut symptoms by a third, then 55% at two months and 50% at one year. The anger gain did not last to two months, and the paper's group numbers don't quite add up.

What the study found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Adults with ADHD who took the programme reported fewer symptoms than the waiting group.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused

   Small randomised trial of 43 adults with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

2. HelpedTime management

   Adults with ADHD who took the programme had better organising skills than the waiting group.

   • Action: Organise your materialstested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused

   Small randomised trial of 43 adults with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Adults with ADHD who took the programme reported less anger in the moment than the waiting group.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused

   Small randomised trial of 43 adults with ADHD · vs people who were still waiting for the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

Source