Psychological Therapies for Adults With ADHD: Meaningful Benefits, but Persistent Gaps in Outcomes

New evidence from more than 3 million patients in England suggests that psychological therapies can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although outcomes remain less favourable than in people without ADHD.

Adults with ADHD experience substantially higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population. Despite this considerable mental health burden, psychological interventions for this population have traditionally focused on managing core ADHD symptoms, such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, rather than directly treating co-occurring psychiatric conditions.