title: Psychotherapy of adults with comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and psychoactive substance use disorder.
abstract: Psychotherapy for comorbid attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD) is described. The authors suggest that relapse prevention is an appropriate initial treatment because it is well suited to manage both substance abuse and comorbid symptomatology such as impulsivity, distractibility, and avoidance associated with ADHD. Clinical vignettes describe typical interactions between patients and their therapists, highlighting opportunities for therapists to focus on overlapping symptoms. ADHD is one of the most common comorbid diagnoses with PSUD, and it is important that efficacious psychotherapies be developed to complement psychopharmacological approaches. Clinicians should consider psychotherapy as part of a multimodal treatment approach that includes medication and perhaps family therapy. Additional contributions from clinicians who have experience conducting psychotherapy with this population are needed in order to develop effective treatments.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Neuroscience, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Aviram
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhum
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012008:Recurrence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs