Study behavioral therapies particularly efficient in ADHD in adulthood

Effectiveness of adult ADHD treatment has been studied
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) are mainly known as Childhood Disease, but a significant number of adults also suffer from the condition. They can be helped in different ways. Which forms of therapy are best suited here have been examined by psychologists at the University of Tübingen in a recent study.

In addition to medicines, behavioral therapy approaches are particularly promising for the treatment of ADHD in adults. However, methods such as so-called neurofeedback training are viewed rather critically. For good reason, if you follow the results of the current study. After all, behavioral group training is much less expensive and more efficient than neurofeedback training. The results of the study were published in the journal "The Lancet Psychiatry".

Scientists are comparing different treatment methods for ADHD in adulthood. (Image: denisismagilov / fotolia.com)

ADHD in adulthood
ADHD already begins in childhood and adolescence, but can persist in adult life in up to 60 percent of cases and lead to difficulties in both professional and private life, the scientists report. The patients are affected by symptoms such as impulsivity, low stress tolerance, inner restlessness and dryness. In addition, according to the experts, "often difficulties in planning and organization, as well as the inability to concentrate for a long time on one thing and bring them to the conclusion."

Different ADHD therapies compared
Although the symptoms can be remedied relatively well with medicines, the medicines themselves bring with them the risk of serious side effects. Comparable treatment successes are also reported for non-pharmacological forms of therapy, which Tübingen psychologists have now taken a closer look at together with scientists from Bamberg, Bayreuth and Budapest. For this purpose, the effect of so-called neurofeedback training, a placebo neurofeedback training (participants were not reported back their own brain waves) and a behavioral group program were examined comparatively. In the latter, specific strategies for action planning, improved time management and stress management techniques were practiced.

Effects on the ADHD symptoms examined
A total of 18 adults with ADHD symptoms participated in the study. One group received either 30 sessions of neurofeedback training or 15 sessions of placebo neurofeedback for 15 weeks followed by 15 neurofeedback sessions. Another group received a total of 12 sessions of behavioral group therapy for 12 weeks, reports the University of Tübingen. The effects on the symptoms of AHDS were assessed, among other things, by objective tests of the ability to concentrate and an analysis of the underlying cerebral blood patterns at four measuring points (first before the start of the intervention, last six months after the end of the training).

Neurofeedback training rather controversial
According to the researchers, the neurofeedback has been controversial since its introduction, as its effects remained unclear. In the procedure, patients should learn to influence their brain waves and thus to achieve a reduction of the symptoms. Although previous studies have convincingly shown that ADHD symptoms actually decrease after such training. However, according to the statement of the researchers remained controversial "whether the improvement is actually due to the specific effect of the training or rather the effect of nonspecific placebo effects must be attributed." Also, such a new method must at least compete with the known behavioral therapeutic methods can.

Behavior therapy group training clearly superior
In the current study, the researchers conclude that "the effects of neurofeedback intervention were not superior to those of placebo training." While both methods may have been shown to work in ADHD, no specific effect of neurofeedback on brainwave is demonstrated. Neurofeedback does not achieve any better results than behavioral group training in its effect on symptoms. Michael Schönenberg from the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen. In addition, behavioral group training also requires significantly less effort. So fewer meetings are required, instead of individual training could be a group training and there are no additional costs by purchasing and maintaining the technical conditions.

"The results of our study show that behavioral approaches are very effective and efficient in the treatment of ADHD symptoms in adulthood," Dr. Schoeneberg. However, before other methods of therapy can be recommended, they should first demonstrate their superiority over standard behavioral therapy, the study director concludes. (Fp)