Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that aims to change negative patterns of thinking that a patient feels about him or herself, abilities, and future. It is a useful short-term approach for addressing ADHD in adults with mood disorders or who suffer from anxiety and other emotional problems.
CBT is based on cognitive restructuring, which is the recognition that thinking patterns can lead to emotional difficulties. Cognitions (automatic thoughts) are spontaneous interpretations of events and are susceptible to distortion, leading to unhealthy internal dialogs. These can prevent an individual from working toward intended goals, developing productive new habits, or taking calculated risks.
An individual with ADHD can internalize an expectation of unachievable standards (“if it’s not perfect, it’s failed”) or of failure (“I can never get this to work.”) CBT seeks to challenge those cognitions and change the distortions. The resulting change in behavior patterns can be effective in treating the comorbid triggers that caused ADHD in the first place.
