Duration of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ADHD Treatment
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is increasing day by day around the world. It is a state in which a person finds it difficult to concentrate on a task continuously for a while. Also, it can develop in a person at any age, be it a child or an adult. Duration of CBT can vary for ADHD Treatment.
It is most common in children between the ages of 6-12 years. Besides, many reasons can cause ADHD in people but the most common factor for ADHD is genetics.
Although there is no proper cure or solution to treat it perfectly, continuous treatment with medications and therapies can give such great results in order to improve the Disorder.
Some therapies can be a very good treatment to improve it. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of them. It is the most popular form of behavioural therapies.
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
CBT is a combination of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies. It works by changing the thoughts in a person’s mind to change them from distressing emotions and dysfunctional thoughts, as emotions are difficult to change straight.
It uses empirical strategies to help a person make changes that are more positive and realistic. Plus, CBT can help them understand the situations and the thoughts and physical sensations in them. Besides, it is oriented on the problems that take place in a person’s daily life.
How many therapy sessions are under for ADHD treatment?
The therapy includes 6 to 20 sessions. For ADHD it gives its results after 12 to 15 one hour sessions. Moreover, patients consider continuing the sessions for a longer term as it improves their coping skills.
You usually need to have a session with the therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks to make it work effectively. And each session should last 30 to 60 minutes for better and faster results.
How doctor perform the therapy with a child?
ADHD is a long-standing hold-up of self-directive skills which include executive functioning skills. These delays create many complications such as procrastination, poor time management, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity etc. Besides, these problems make it difficult for people with ADHD to direct the emotions and behaviours.
CBT techniques for children are as follows:
- Play Therapy: In this method, therapists use arts and crafts, dolls and puppets, role-playing etc. to help the child identify the problem and try to work them out.
- Trauma-focused CBT: This technique is used to treat children who are affected by some traumatic events.
- Modelling: In this one, the therapist act as an example of the required behaviour and asks the diagnosed to do the same.
- Restructuring: This method helps the child to change a negative thought process into a motivational and positive one.
- Exposure: Slowly, the therapist reveals the child to the things that encourage anxiety.
These therapies can be done in different ways which are:
- Individual
- Parent-child
- Family-based
- Group session
Stages of CBT for ADHD:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy includes three stages of practice therapy which are,
- Assessment: It contains exploring jointly with the diagnosed, how their thoughts, feelings and behaviours are contributing to the condition in terms of frequency, intensity and duration. The A-B-C model has been frequently used at the assessment stage. Besides, it requires the diagnosed to explore the Activating event, their Belief system or attitude. And the Consequences as reflected in their behavioural or emotional reactions.
- Intervention: The assessment stage will inform the type of intervention to be selected, based on the thoughts, feelings or behaviours that are the focus of change. Such interventions could include cognitive restructuring (Frojan-Parga et al, 2009); relaxation techniques (Payne and Donaghy, 2010); social skills training (Sheldon, 1998); assertion training and problem-solving skills (O’Donohue, 2003); systematic desensitization; and reinforcement, modelling and role-plays.
- Evaluation: The evaluation stage plays a role as an opportunity to recognize any changes which have occurred in the intensity, frequency and duration of thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
At what stage doctor recommends ADHD stimulants?
Stimulants are the first-choice treatment for ADHD like Adderall or Ritalin because they are very effective and give the best results. And doctors usually suggest them at a low dosage at starting, then increase every 7 days until the symptoms get controlled without any side effects.
Once you take them correctly, you need to make sure that the drugs are working efficiently with only minor side effects. Besides, some adults might be able to stop the medication but most of them need to keep going with the medication.
Successful cases of therapy treatment
It is no longer hidden that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been a success for a very long time now. Not only for treating ADHD, but CBT is also a great success to treat conditions such as Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Disorders, Substance Abuse, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Dissociative Identity Disorders, Chronic pain etc.
Conclusion
ADHD has become very prevalent nowadays. It is the most common disorder found in children of ages 6 to 12 years, however, it can happen at any age. Thus, genetics plays a very important role in developing ADHD in a person.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very effective treatment for treating ADHD in both children and adults. Also, doctors recommend this therapy along with the medication to improve the condition and minimize the symptoms of the Disorder.
It has been a great success in most of the cases not only for ADHD treatment but many other health conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, OCD etc.
Therefore, if you or your child is having the same problem you need to go to your healthcare provider for the best recommendations and advice.
References:
https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/docs/therapists_guide_to_brief_cbtmanual.pdf
https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/cbt-guide-en.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350895
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/cbt-for-kids#conditions