Cogantive Behavioral Therapy for Adults with ADHD - Book Review

If you are curious about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I will try to give you brief summary of definition and how it is used. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a psychotherapeutic technique using multiple aspects of approaching emotional dysfunction, cognition, and specific behaviors through a series of steps. You can often hear CBT as being associated with Talk Therapy.

CBT is not only used with ADHD patients but any number of patients suffering from many disorders relating to the mental Psyche of a person.

After finding out about my ADHD, (for the second time) last summer, I have taken it upon myself to read and learn more about this disorder. I've found some interesting titles. Here is a recent book on CBT that I just read; I found this book very interesting.

If you are looking for a book that has more about the psychology of ADHD with a more rounded approach to looking at this disorder; Great! This is your book.

I constantly found myself wanting to share what I had just read with someone. So this is my way of doing that. It not only details ADHD and those who have it, it gives in-depth information. Something that can get a little annoying as you read it though, is the fact that at the end of the paragraphs it lists where it's information was attained. I did find that a little distracting. Again it deals with Comorbidity and so many other aspects of ADHD it is hard to describe here. It is a well rounded book that touches on almost every aspect of ADHD. I posted the books table of contents for you below, so you can get a better idea about what is in here. I treasure this book. It explained so much.

This book is choked full of wonderful information. I found it such a relief to read. I learned so much about myself and why I am the way I am. Things I had never before understood. I wish I would have had the information a lot sooner. If you are married and you have experienced a lot of turmoil in your relationship, get this book. Read it to your spouse, share it with you family, anyone you are close to. You never know, it could save you a lot of heartache and relieve frustrations by understanding the full effect ADHD has on your existence. 

Adult ADHD

An Integrative Psychosocial and
Medical Approach
J. Russell Ramsay
Anthony L. Rostain

Page 41 of the book.

Adult ADHD

An Integrative Psychosocial and
Medical Approach
J. Russell Ramsay
Anthony L. Rostain

Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
2 Park Square
Milton Park, Abingdon
Oxon OX14 4RN
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an
Informa business
Printed in the United States of America on acid‑free paper

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD

Said all too simply, CBT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on

cognitions (thoughts, images, beliefs) as a useful framework with which

to understand and treat psychiatric disorders (Beck, 1976). More specifically,

CBT involves helping individuals to recognize their existing cognitive

patterns and belief structures in order to be able to modify them

with alternative thoughts and beliefs. By considering alternative cognitions,

individuals develop and experiment with new outlooks, which set

the stage for novel behavioral and emotion experiences. These experiences

provide the raw material for the modification of cognitions, behaviors,

and emotions, thereby resulting in clinical improvements. CBT was

originally designed as a treatment for depression (Beck, 1967; Beck et

al., 1979) but has since been applied successfully to a number of different

disorders, including anxiety and panic disorder, substance abuse,

and bipolar disorder (see Beck, 2005, for a review).

Let us be crystal clear: ADHD is not caused by negative thinking.

As we described in chapter 1, ADHD seems to be the result of a complex

combination of genetic and neurobiological factors. However, the

experience of going through life with ADHD, particularly when it has

gone undiagnosed until adulthood, has potentially important consequences

for the belief systems that develop about the self, the world, and

the future—known as the cognitive triad (Beck, 1967). Thoughts and

beliefs then interact with behaviors and emotions in an intricate web of

experience. The CBT model does not maintain that thoughts and beliefs

are necessarily the cause of all emotions and behaviors (in many cases,

emotional processing occurs first and, besides, a hallmark symptom

of ADHD—impulsivity—involves acting without thinking) but it has

emerged as a very useful route of intervention to understand and modify

these patterns.

Moreover, although identifying and changing the maladaptive

thought patterns that are triggered in various situations is paramount

in CBT for adult ADHD, it is important for clinicians to appreciate that

these in‑the‑moment reactive thoughts may only be the tip of the iceberg.

These reflexive cognitions may represent the culmination of many other

cognitive and developmental processes that are important in constructing

42 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD

comprehensive and individualized treatment plans for patients. The case

conceptualization offers a framework for understanding how living with

ADHD has had a unique effect on each patient and, consequently, provides

a personalized blueprint for how treatment should proceed. Thus,

we will start our discussion of CBT for adult ADHD by introducing the

case conceptualization that guides our psychosocial treatment approach.

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xix

Chapter 1 Adult ADHD: Diagnosis, Symptoms, Etiology,

and Assessment 1

Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms Across The Life Span 3

Persistence and Prevalence of Adult ADHD 10

Comorbidity and Life Outcomes of Adults with ADHD 12

Etiology 15

Neurobiology 15

Executive Functions 18

Genetics 20

Assessment of Adult ADHD 22

Assessing Symptoms of ADHD 26

Adult ADHD and Comorbidity 32

Summary 37

Chapter 2 Models of Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adult

ADHD 39

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD 41

Case Conceptualization 42

CBT for Adult ADHD in Clinical Practice 52

Pharmacotherapy for Adult ADHD 78

Summary 83

viii Contents

Chapter 3 Research Evidence for Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CBT) and Medications for Adult

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) 85

Review of Research Evidence for Psychosocial

Treatments for Adults with ADHD 87

Review of Research Evidence for Pharmacotherapy

for Adults with ADHD 99

Summary 103

Chapter 4 Clinical Case Examples 105

Case Example 1: William 105

Case Example 2: Jack 117

Case Example 3: Lauren 130

Chapter 5 Complicating Factors 145

Readiness for Change 146

Comorbidity 148

Medication‑Related Complications 160

Professionals’ Reactions to ADHD Patients 163

Significant Impairment 165

Social Skills and Relationship Problems 166

Systemic Complications 168

Summary 170

Chapter 6 Maintenance and Follow‑Up 173

Maintenance and Follow‑Up: CBT 174

Maintenance and Follow‑Up: Pharmacotherapy 181

Summary 182

Appendix A Informational Resources about Adult

ADHD Online Resources and Organizations

Regarding Adult ADHD 185

Recommended Readings about Adult ADHD: For

Consumers 185

Recommended Readings about Adult ADHD: For

Clinicians 186

Contents ix

Appendix B Outline of a Typical CBT Session for Adult

ADHD 189

Appendix C Outline of a 20‑Session Course of CBT for

Adult ADHD 191

Session 1: Getting Started 191

Session 2: Getting Started (Continued) 191

Sessions 3 through 6: Early Phase 191

Sessions 7 through 15: Middle Phase 192

Sessions 16 through 20: Final Phase 192

Appendix D Typical Medications Prescribed to Treat Adult

ADHD 193

References 197

Index 219