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

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).

Keywords: Latin American culture; add-on treatment; adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; dialectical behavior therapy; feasibility; group therapy; randomized clinical trial; skills training group.