Any questions regarding this presentation can be sent to phillip.ferguson@mail.utoronto.ca
4. Mental health and addictions
- Release date:
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This webinar will be available for a limited time after the conference- don’t miss it on Wednesday October 12th during the conference!
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- Style: On-demand Webcast
- Focus: Balance between both (e.g. Presentation of a best-practice guideline that combines research evidence, policy issues and practical steps for implementation)
- Target Audience: Leadership, Clinical providers
Learning Objectives
- To learn about an 8-week group intervention for adults with ADHD that can be implemented in a Family Health Team setting.
- To learn how interprofessional collaboration can enhance biopsychosocial treatment options available within a Family Health Team.
- To learn how the virtual group environment can be adapted to promote sustained engagement of adult patients with ADHD.
Summary/Abstract
An interprofessional team at the St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team comprised of a psychologist, pharmacist, social worker, and learners co-facilitated an 8-week group therapy for adults with ADHD. The intervention, based on the Jeavons and colleagues (2018) Adult ADHD Treatment Handbook protocol, included psychoeducation, skills training, group discussions, videos, activities, and post-group chats. Treatment topics included understanding attentional and behavioural symptom impacts of ADHD and its common comorbidities, coping skills for managing ADHD-related impacts on impulsivity, mood, organization, time and money management, and interpersonal relationships. A pharmacist delivered a presentation related to the pharmacological management of ADHD. The program was delivered over Zoom, which offered both benefits and limitations that will be discussed. Results from a program evaluation and post-treatment outcome measures will be presented. Preliminary qualitative data from post-treatment evaluations indicated that engagement with peers and a neurodivergent facilitator helped participants better understand how their ADHD diagnosis impacted their lives and to feel hopeful, less isolated, and validated. Participants reported qualitative improvements in mood and quality of life, however quantitative analysis of preliminary data from the first two cohorts (N = 12) indicated non-significant changes in anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and ADHD (ASRS) symptoms. Perceived improvements in quality of life were consistent with statistically significant decreases in ADHD-related functional impairment (WFIRS) in life skills, self-concept, and work domains. This psychosocial group treatment shows positive trends in quantitative outcome measures as well as qualitative feedback and is feasible to deliver in a primary healthcare setting.
Presenters
- Phillip Ferguson, Ph.D. Student Clinician, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team, OISE/University of Toronto
- Juliana Tobon, Ph.D., C.Psych., Psychologist, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team