Smartphone Application to Supplement Treatment of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

ADHD is a neurocognitive disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Numerous treatments for this disorder exist, including medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD includes several components aimed to help clients strengthen their executive functioning, cope more effectively with distractions, and modify their maladaptive thoughts (Safren et al., 2017). However, these treatments rely on the patient’s ability to sustain attention to the tasks necessary and engage in quotidian behaviors. Since doing these tasks is inherently difficult for those with ADHD, the primary goal of this study is to use evidence based cognitive-behavioral therapy as the foundation for developing a prototype of a phone application to supplement the treatment of adult ADHD. This phone application is intended to be an ‘on the go’ and easy to access resource that would augment CBT, medications or combined treatment. Thus, the creation of a smartphone app to supplement ADHD treatment may prove to be an asset to individuals with ADHD and to the medical professionals treating them.