Review

Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: May 2, 2026
TR EN

Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review is to systematically review randomized controlled trials examining the effects of psychotherapy-based interventions on emotion regulation in adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, TR Dizin, and ULAKBİM databases were searched up to May 2025 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Based on criteria, six studies were included in the systematic review. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment (Cochrane Rob 2) tool. The studies reviewed were subsequently examined and evaluated in terms of sample characteristics, research designs, measurement tools, and findings. The findings revealed that psychotherapy interventions generally increased emotion regulation skills in the intervention group; however, only three studies showed that this improvement was statistically significant compared to the control group. It was observed that only self-report instruments were used, measurements of positive emotion regulation were lacking, and analyses according to ADHD subtypes were absent. Accordingly, it is recommended that future studies should incorporate more objective measurement methods, evaluate positive emotion regulation processes, and distinguish effects specific to ADHD subtypes.

Keywords

References

  1. Abrams J, Faraone SV, Woodworth KY, Spencer TJ, Biederman I, Biederman J (2018) Are adult adhd patients good ınformants of their symptoms? A qualitative literature review of concordance between clinician and self-report adhd symptoms. J Nerv Ment Dis, 206:739–743.
  2. Agnew-Blais JC, Polanczyk G, Danese A, Wertz J, Moffitt TE, Arseneault L (2016) Persistence, remission and emergence of ADHD in young adulthood: results from a longitudinal, prospective population-based cohort. JAMA Psychiatry, 73:713.
  3. Albesisi S, Overton PG (2023) Relationship between ADHD-like traits and emotion dysregulation in the adult general population. Adv Neurodev Disord, 8:627-637.
  4. Aldao A, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Schweizer S (2010) Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev, 30:217–237.
  5. Amador-Campos JA, Krieger V (2023) Executive functions and emotional lability in adults with ADHD. In Clinical Handbook of ADHD Assessment and Treatment Across the Lifespan (Ed JL Matson):97-138. Cham, Springer.
  6. APA (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.(DSM-5). Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association.
  7. APA (2022) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition text revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association.
  8. Asherson P, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Young S (2018) Adult ADHD: Clinical presentation and assessment, In Oxford Textbook of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Eds T Banaschewski, D Coghill, A Zuddas):178-192. Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy Practise and Research

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

May 2, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

December 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Turhan Arslan, H. S., & Sarıot Ertürk, Ö. (2026). Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, Advanced Online Publication, 1495-1511. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1830705
AMA
1.Turhan Arslan HS, Sarıot Ertürk Ö. Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):1495-1511. doi:10.18863/pgy.1830705
Chicago
Turhan Arslan, Hilal Sıla, and Özge Sarıot Ertürk. 2026. “Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults With ADHD: A Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, no. Advanced Online Publication: 1495-1511. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1830705.
EndNote
Turhan Arslan HS, Sarıot Ertürk Ö (May 1, 2026) Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar Advanced Online Publication 1495–1511.
IEEE
[1]H. S. Turhan Arslan and Ö. Sarıot Ertürk, “Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review”, Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry, no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 1495–1511, May 2026, doi: 10.18863/pgy.1830705.
ISNAD
Turhan Arslan, Hilal Sıla - Sarıot Ertürk, Özge. “Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults With ADHD: A Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar. Advanced Online Publication (May 1, 2026): 1495-1511. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1830705.
JAMA
1.Turhan Arslan HS, Sarıot Ertürk Ö. Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026;:1495–1511.
MLA
Turhan Arslan, Hilal Sıla, and Özge Sarıot Ertürk. “Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults With ADHD: A Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, no. Advanced Online Publication, May 2026, pp. 1495-11, doi:10.18863/pgy.1830705.
Vancouver
1.Hilal Sıla Turhan Arslan, Özge Sarıot Ertürk. Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions on Emotion Regulation in Adults with ADHD: A Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026 May 1;(Advanced Online Publication):1495-511. doi:10.18863/pgy.1830705
 
Creative Commons License
Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.