One year follow-up of participants in a randomised controlled trial of a CBT-based group therapy programme for adolescents diagnosed with ADHD

Figures & data

Figure 1. Participant flow.

Table 1. Clinical characteristics of study sample.

Characteristics	CBT-group (n = 50)	Control group (n = 50)
Female, n (%)	29 (58.0)	28 (56.0)
Mean age, years (SD)	15.9 (1.3)	15.8 (1.3)
Full Scale IQ, n (mean [SD])	44 (94.3 [12.8])	42 (93.4 [13.2])
ADHD presentation (Kiddie-SADS-PL), n (%)
Predominately combined	18 (36.0)	13 (26.0)
Predominately inattentive	17 (34.0)	18 (36.0)
Subthreshold ADHD	15 (30.0)	19 (38.0)
Psychiatric comorbidities present^an (%)	28 (56)	25 (50)
Anxiety disorders	19 (38.0)	18 (36.0)
Depressive disorder NOS/dysthymic disorder	8 (16.0)	3 (6.0)
Tics disorder or Tourette syndrome	4 (8.0)	5 (10.0)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder	1 (2.0)	2 (4.0)
Posttraumatic stress disorder	0 (0.0)	1 (2.0)
ODD/disruptive behavioural disorder NOS	6 (12.0)	5 (10.0)
Autism spectrum disorder (mild symptoms)	2 (4.0)	2 (4.0)
Learning disorders, reading disorders, or mixed, n (%)	8 (16.0)	10 (20.0)

Note: ADHD: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ODD: oppositional defiant disorder;  Full Scale IQ: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children or adults (WISC-IV, WAIS-IV); SD: standard deviation

^aPsychiatric comorbidities are based on the Kiddie-SADS-PL interview with the adolescents.

Table 2. Primary and secondary outcome measures.

Measures	CBT group (n = 50)			Control group (n = 50)			Difference (group × time)
	n	Mean	SD	n	Mean	SD	Estimate	95% CI	p Value
ADHD RS-IV self, total
Pre-treatment	44	21.55	9.75	47	21.49	10.15
Post-treatment	44	19.80	9.88	45	18.67	10.21	1.27^a	−1.66–4.21	0.394
12 months follow up	48	18.02	7.99	47	18.11	7.57	−0.32^a	−3.18–2.54	0.828
ADHD RS-IV self, inattention subscale
Pre-treatment	47	12.32	4.99	49	11.31	6.28
Post-treatment	47	11.09	5.50	46	10.13	6.08	0.55^a	−1.15– 2.24	0.527
12 months follow up	48	10.48	4.62	47	10.55	4.89	−0.61^a	−2.29– 1.07	0.476
ADHD RS-IV self, hyperactivity/impulsive subscale
Pre-treatment	46	9.35	6.10	47	9.96	5.14
Post-treatment	44	8.82	6.17	46	8.67	5.07	0.42^a	−1.30–2.14	0.628
12 months follow up	48	7.54	4.82	47	7.55	4.30	0.16^a	−1.52– 1.84	0.851
Clinic Global Impression Severity
Pre-treatment	50	3.96	0.53	50	3.92	0.67
Post-treatment	47	3.38	0.82	47	3.40	0.99	0.04^a	−0.26–0.35	0.772
12 months follow up	48	3.42	0.87	47	3.57	0.85	−0.15^a	−0.45–0.15	0.333
Children’s Global Assessment Scale
Pre-treatment	50	62.18	6.98	50	62.12	6.82
Post-treatment	47	61.30	8.66	47	61.04	10.44	−0.05^b	−3.37–3.27	0.978
12 months follow up	48	62.50	8.75	47	61.68	9.49	0.51^b	−2.76–3.79	0.757
General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale
Pre-treatment	49	27.56	5.22	49	28.04	5.05
Post-treatment	47	29.21	4.13	47	29.15	5.84	0.45^b	−1.19–2.09	.586
12 months follow up	48	29.54	4.86	47	29.85	4.24	−0.01^b	−1.64–1.63	.994

Descriptive statistics at baseline, post-treatment, and 12 months follow up, and estimated treatment effect (coefficient for the interaction term) from the mixed-model analyses.

Note: ADHD-RS: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale.

^aA negative difference estimate is in favour of the CBT group and a positive estimate is in favour of the control group.

^bA positive difference estimate is in favour of the CBT group and a negative estimate is in favour of the control group.

Table 3. Youth Self Report-Brief Problem Monitor (YSR-BPM).

	CBT group (n = 50)			Control group (n = 50)			Difference (Student’s t-test)
Measure	n	Mean	SD	n	Mean	SD	Estimate	95% CI	p Value
YSR-BPM total	48	13.13	6.53	47	13.19	6.54	−0.07^a	−2.73–2.60	0.961
YSR-BMP T-score	48	59.5	7.35	47	60.2	7.30
Externalising subscale	48	3.23	2.27	47	3.43	2.16	−0.20^a	−1.10–0.71	0.667
Externalising subscale T-score	48	54.4	5.63	47	54.8	5.79
Internalising subscale	48	3.71	3.37	47	3.70	3.65	0.01^a	−1.42–1.44	0.993
Internalising subscale T-score	48	57.8	7.93	47	58.2	9.08
Attention subscale	48	6.19	2.61	47	6.06	2.62	−0.12^a	−0.94–1.19	0.818
Attention subscale T-score	48	63.3	6.91	47	63.5	7.08

Descriptive statistics at 12 months follow up, and results from independent samples t-test comparing intervention group and control group.

Note: ^aA negative difference estimate is in favour of the CBT group and a positive estimate is in favour of the control group.

Table

It was nice and useful to meet others in the same situation as me

‘It was really nice to feel that I am not alone, that the others were normal (teenagers) in the same boat as me’

‘It was useful for me to meet others in the same situation’

‘We learned a lot from each other’

I learned about ADHD and useful strategies

‘I learned about how to better deal with ADHD’

‘I understood more about my diagnosis’

Participation in the group therapy was helpful

‘I had a lot of anxiety that almost made me quit school. I felt better able to cope, it was a turning point for me’

‘I am doing a lot better now than before I participated in the group therapy’

I would recommend the programme to others in my situation

‘All kids diagnosed with ADHD should be offered this intervention’

Participation was time consuming and stressful

‘I didn′t manage to practice between sessions, I had enough with school and homework. It was too much work’

‘Homework was stressful’