How is Cognitive-behavioral Therapy Applied to Cases of ADHD?

ADHD, an acronym that refers to the term “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” is a psychological phenomenon that often gives rise to controversy. In fact, there are many people who today believe that it is a simple invention of the pharmaceutical industry, created to sell stimulant-type drugs such as methylphenidate.

However, The truth is that ADHD is a reality, and in fact its existence is not as linked to the dynamics of large pharmaceutical companies as is often believed. It is true that it is probably an overdiagnosed disorder (that is, there is a tendency to assume that people without ADHD have developed this disorder), and it is also true that the use of medications is often recommended in its treatment.

But the truth is that the existence of ADHD has evidence both in the field of clinical psychology and in neuroscience, and the fact of having received this diagnosis does not imply the need for the use of psychotropic drugs. Typically, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy works best, and many times it is enough. Let’s see what it consists of and how it is applied in this disorder.

What is ADHD?

Let’s start with the fundamentals: what is ADHD? Is about a neurodevelopmental disorder that is usually detected during childhood in some boys and girls and which gives rise to three main types of symptoms:

One of the main consequences of ADHD is that if it is not treated properly it tends to significantly limit the school progress of children, leading to academic failure and everything that entails in adolescence and adult life. In addition, it also gives rise to problems of coexistence and family dynamics.

As far as is currently known, Normally, ADHD symptoms do not disappear completely in adulthood. , although it is true that after adolescence we have better tools to put both our thoughts and our priorities in order. While it is true that those who have developed ADHD during their childhood do not continue to maintain the classic childhood behavior based on impulsivity and high activity, statistically they are more likely to develop addictions and other problems linked to difficulties repressing impulses.

How is ADHD treated in cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychological intervention that, as its name indicates, aims to help the person seeking support modify their behavioral patterns and cognitive patterns. That is, your way of behaving from an objective point of view that is observable by everyone (moving, talking to others, and interacting with what is around you in general), and your way of thinking, feeling, and maintaining beliefs.

This double path of action, which is not as parallel as it seems, given that observable behavior and cognitive processes are constantly influencing each other, is very effective when it comes to offering psychological assistance for a wide variety of problems, some of which are which do not even have to do with psychological disorders.

How is cognitive-behavioral therapy applied in the case of ADHD? In summary, the main forms of intervention in this type of case are the following.

1. Training in emotion recognition

The cognitive-behavioral model helps people with ADHD to correctly identify the emotions they feel at all times.

In this way, for example, They are prevented from using forms of “relief” for emotional discomfort that can lead to recurring habits. , or even addictions, from actions that lead to covering up that discomfort with specific moments of well-being that “cover up” anguish, sadness, frustration, etc. Doing this makes it more likely that the person will correctly intervene on the true source of the problem that is making them feel this way.

2. Structuring behavioral guidelines

Psychologists who work with the cognitive-behavioral model We train people with attention and impulsivity problems when adopting action sequencing strategies.

This makes it less likely to start a task and leave it halfway, or direct the focus of attention towards other stimuli, since emphasis is placed on those pathways of thought and action that lead us to finish what we started and move on to the next task. to do.

3. Anxiety management techniques

Anxiety is one of the psychological phenomena that most predisposes us to disorganization and the search for external distractions. For this reason, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches people to manage it better without falling into its traps.

4. Communication guidelines

We must not forget that many of the symptoms of ADHD facilitate the appearance of conflicts and coexistence problems. Therefore, in psychology Guidelines are given to prevent this type of problems, and provide a constructive solution once they have occurred.