Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

ADHD is a chronic disorder that affects individuals throughout their life span. About eighty percent of children with ADHD continue to have the disorder in adolescence and suffer from cognitive, social, and emotional impairments due to ADHD as well as due to disorders associated with ADHD. CBT, even though established as an effective treatment strategy for adults with ADHD, is a relatively new approach for treatment of adolescents with ADHD. Even though the techniques have been borrowed from CBT for adults with ADHD, attempts are made to tailor the treatment to the specific needs of the adolescent population. This chapter discusses at length the various cognitive behavioral techniques for the management of adolescent ADHD. Specific CBT has been demonstrated in a session-wise manner to make the flow of CBT for adolescents with ADHD clear for the budding therapists. These CBT techniques are relevant in managing a plethora of issues that adolescents with ADHD face. For the ease of the understanding, relevant pragmatic examples as well as samples of worksheets have been provided, wherever necessary.