Table 4.

Sample and study design features, and ADHD symptom specific outcome measures, of 3 randomized, controlled studies of psychotherapy in adult ADHD

Authors	N	Rank ofa current comorbidity	Length of study	Type of psychotherapy	Efficacy; physician rated responseb		Efficacy; patient rated responseb
Safren 2005	31	Low	15 weeks	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) + continued medication All patients on medication	Effect size 1.2–1.4 Responders: CBT 56% Control 13%		Effect size 1.7
Stevenson 2002	43	Low	8 weeks + 2 and 12 months follow-up	Cognitive Remediation Programme (CRP) + continued medication Med. 22 Not med. 21			Responders: Post treatment 36% 2 months 55% 12 months: 50% Effect size 1.4
Stevenson 2003	35	Low	8 weeks + 2 months follow-up	Psychosocial self-directed intervention + continued medication Med. 23 Not med. 12			Responders: Post treatment 47% 2 months 36%

^aThe study was ranked as low in current comorbidity if there was no or very sparse information on comorbidity, only lifetime comorbidity presented, or low numbers of comorbid disorders like anxiety and mood disorders only. The study was ranked as moderate in current comorbidity if the sample had more than 25% current comorbidity on major depression, substance abuse or alcohol abuse, and/or personality disorders. Studies presenting more than 75% current comorbidity on major depression, substance abuse or alcohol abuse, and/or personality disorders were ranked as high comorbidity.

^bWhen available the measures presented are response rates defined as percent of patients experiencing >30% reduction of ADHD symptoms on an ADHD rating scale, and/or much or very much improved on Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I). If this definition was not used, we present the response rates as defined by the paper, or effect size (computed by taking the mean outcome score of active treatment minus the mean outcome score of control/placebo and dividing the result by the pooled standard deviation).