Delivering Evidence-Based Treatments for Child Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Context of Parental ADHD
Open accessAbstract
Behavioral parent training (BPT) and stimulant medications are efficacious treatments for child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, there is some evidence to suggest that parental ADHD may reduce the efficacy of both treatment modalities. This review paper summarizes the literature related to the evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological treatment of child ADHD in the context of parental ADHD. We also review the literature on the effects of treating parents' ADHD symptoms on parenting and child behavior outcomes. Although the literature is small and inconsistent, studies suggest that medicating parents' ADHD symptoms may or may not be sufficient in demonstrating desired improvements in parenting and child behavioral outcomes. Therefore, interventions targeting both parent and child ADHD, when both are present, are likely needed to improve parent-child interactions and family functioning. Ongoing studies using a multimodal approach are discussed.
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CBT is the most extensively validated modality for adult ADHD, demonstrating moderate-to-large effects on symptom reduction and comorbid anxiety and depression.
“CBT is the most extensively validated modality for adult ADHD, demonstrating moderate-to-large effects on symptom reduction and comorbid anxiety and depression [159].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [159]
The Conclusions & Future Directions section describes a study of behavioral group psychotherapy for mothers with ADHD, but says its results were still awaiting publication. Searches for CBT, cognitive-behavioral therapy, effect sizes, anxiety, and depression found no passage in our copy establishing that CBT is the most extensively validated adult-ADHD treatment or that it has the claimed effects. (LLM, conf=0.75)
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ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives
Bogdańska-Chomczyk, E., Majewski, M. K., & Kozłowska, A. (2025) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms262211020 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“CBT is the most extensively validated modality for adult ADHD, demonstrating moderate-to-large effects on symptom reduction and comorbid anxiety and depression [159].”
- Authors
- Wang, C. H., Mazursky-Horowitz, H., & Chronis-Tuscano, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chronis-Tuscano, Andrea
- Venue
- Current Psychiatry Reports
- Published
- 2014-08-19
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 474-474
- ISSN
- 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
- 1535-1645
- PMC
- PMC4664577
- OpenAlex
- W2026025181
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 0.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R03MH070666, R34MH099208)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Keywords
- parental ADHD, behavioral parent training, stimulant medication, treatment efficacy, parenting outcomes, parent-child interaction, family functioning, multimodal intervention
- MeSH terms
- Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Behavior Therapy, Child, Humans, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Parenting, Evidence-Based Medicine
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