title: Investigating the efficacy of integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for adult treatment seeking substance use disorder patients with comorbid ADHD: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with substance use disorders (SUD). The combination of ADHD and SUD is associated with a negative prognosis of both SUD and ADHD. Pharmacological treatments of comorbid ADHD in adult patients with SUD have not been very successful. Recent studies show positive effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in ADHD patients without SUD, but CBT has not been studied in ADHD patients with comorbid SUD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper presents the protocol of a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an integrated CBT protocol aimed at reducing SUD as well as ADHD symptoms in SUD patients with a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD. The experimental group receives 15 CBT sessions directed at symptom reduction of SUD as well as ADHD. The control group receives treatment as usual, i.e. 10 CBT sessions directed at symptom reduction of SUD only. The primary outcome is the level of self-reported ADHD symptoms. Secondary outcomes include measures of substance use, depression and anxiety, quality of life, health care consumption and neuropsychological functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an integrated CBT protocol for adult SUD patients with a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD. The rationale for the trial, the design, and the strengths and limitations of the study are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Arkin Mental Health Care and Addiction Treatment Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. katelijne.van.oortmerssen@arkin.nl
authors.forename: Katelijne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vedel
authors.forename: Maarten W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Koeter
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Bruijn
authors.forename: Jack J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schoevers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome