Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in adults is associated with global impairments and deficits in quality of life. The ADHD functional impairments during adulthood usually persist even after adequate medication treatment. The Skill Training Group of the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is one of the group therapies that had been adapted for the specific treatment of ADHD patients. Our primary aim is to explore the feasibility of the approach in different culture and to evaluate the efficacy of the Skill Training Group as an add-on treatment for adults using ADHD medication. This is a Randomized Clinical Trial comparing the Skill Training Group added to stimulants to treatment as usual. 52 adults previously diagnosed with ADHD and treated with stimulants in our ADHD outpatient program will be enrolled. Only patients with residual symptoms will be included (ADHD-Self Report Scale - ASRS ≥ 20). The intervention comprises the standard 12 sessions therapy program. The groups will have between 8 and 12 patients each, and will be conducted by a trained DBT therapist with supervision from a senior DBT therapist. The primary outcome will be the ASRS scores. Secondary outcomes include scores in ADHD Quality of Life, Beck's Depression Inventory, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, and performance in a neuropsychological test (difference between pre and post-intervention) (Stop Signal Task). Adherence to the protocol will also be checked. The recruitment was initially scheduled for beginning in November.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
31
A 12 session version of the Skill Training Group of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy, adapted for treatment of ADHD.
Conventional protocol using only medication (including drug adherence).
Centro de Pesquisa Clínica
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Change in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder Self Rating Scale
Sefl rated scale to measure Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Symptoms Symptoms. ASRS has 18 questions about ADHD symptoms. Each question is scored between 0 (never happen), and 4 (very frequently). The total score goes from 0 up to 72. Higher scores mean more symptoms and higher ADHD's impairments.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Change in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder Self Rating Scale - Mid-treatment
Sefl rated scale to measure Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Symptoms. ASRS has 18 questions about ADHD symptoms. Each question is scored between 0 (never happen), and 4 (very frequently). The total score goes from 0 up to 72. Higher scores mean more symptoms and higher ADHD's impairments.
Time frame: 6 Weeks
Change in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder Quality of Life
"Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality-of-Life Scale (AAQoL)" is a Self-rated scale for quality of life in ADHD. The scale has 29 questions ranging from 1 to 5. The AaQol focuses on four areas of patients quality of life: mental health, life goals, productivity, and relationships. The total scores go from 0 to 145. Higher scores mean the patient has a worse perception of his quality of life.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Change in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder Quality of Life - Mid-treatment
"Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality-of-Life Scale (AAQoL)" is a Self-rated scale for quality of life in ADHD. The scale has 29 questions ranging from 1 to 5. The AaQol focuses on four areas of patients quality of life: mental health, life goals, productivity, and relationships. The total scores go from 0 to 145. Higher scores mean the patient has a worse perception of his quality of life.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in Beck Depression Inventory
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a Self-rated scale for depression. BDI has 21 questions ranging from 0-4, with the maximum score being 63. Higher scores mean higher depression levels. Scores between 0-13 are considered minimal depression, between 14 and 19 are considered mild depression, from 20 to 28 moderate depression, over 29 are considered severe depression.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Change in Beck Depression Inventory - Mid-treatment
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a Self-rated scale for depression BDI has 21 questions ranging from 0-4, with the maximum score being 63. Higher scores mean higher depression levels. Scores between 0-13 are considered minimal depression, between 14 and 19 are considered mild depression, from 20 to 28 moderate depression, over 29 are considered severe depression.
Time frame: 6 Weeks
Change in Beck Anxiety Inventory
Beck Anxiety Inventory is a Self-rated scale for anxiety. BAI has 21 questions ranging from 0-4, with the maximum score being 63. Higher scores mean higher anxiety levels. Scores between 0-9 are considered normal, between 10 and 18 are considered mild to moderate anxiety, from 19 to 29 moderate to severe anxiety, over 30 are considered severe anxiety.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Change in Beck Anxiety Inventory - Mid-treatment
Beck Anxiety Inventory is a Self-rated scale for anxiety. BAI has 21 questions ranging from 0-4, with the maximum score being 63. Higher scores mean higher anxiety levels. Scores between 0-9 are considered normal, between 10 and 18 are considered mild to moderate anxiety, from 19 to 29 moderate to severe anxiety, over 30 are considered severe anxiety.
Time frame: 6 Weeks
Change in the reflexive function questionnaire
A self-reported scale to measure reflexive psychological functions. The questionnaire has 8 questions variating from one to seven. Total scores have ranged between 8 and 56. Better reflexive functions mean lowers scores on the scale.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in the reflexive function questionnaire - Mid-treatment
A self-reported scale to measure reflexive psychological functions. The questionnaire has 8 questions variating from one to seven. Total scores have ranged between 8 and 56. Better reflexive functions mean lowers scores on the scale.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in the Go NoGo
Computer-based psychometric task. Consists of three stimuli, one green arrow to left, one pointing to the right, and one arrow pointing to both sides. Subjects have to press correctly to right or left in the presence of the correspondent arrow or do not press any in the presence of the arrow to both sides. The task takes around 5 minutes. The aim is to measure impulsivity through response times, commissions and errors.
Time frame: 14 weeks
Change in Stroop Task
neuropsychological test to measure response inhibition (impulse control). The task has four stimuli, two green arrows, pointing to the right or left, and two red arrows, pointing to the right or left. When the green stimuli appear the subject must press the button to the correspondent side, in the appearance of the red stimuli the subject must press a button of the opposing side.
Time frame: 14 Weeks
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