Challenges in the integration of psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy in adult ADHD

Abstract

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may persist into adulthood and significantly impair individuals’ cognitive, emotional, social, and occupational functioning. In this context, the treatment of adult ADHD has been widely discussed in the scientific literature, with emphasis on the use of psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. This study aims to analyze the challenges involved in integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy in the treatment of adult ADHD, considering their implications for therapeutic effectiveness and clinical management. This is a literature review based on the analysis of scientific articles, without language restrictions, published between 2021 and 2026 in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO. The results indicate that psychopharmacotherapy demonstrates consistent effectiveness in reducing the core symptoms of the disorder, while psychotherapy, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, contributes to the development of skills related to organization, planning, and emotional regulation. However, the literature also highlights important challenges in integrating these therapeutic modalities, including difficulties in treatment adherence, limitations in interdisciplinary communication among healthcare professionals, and structural barriers to accessing specialized services. It is concluded that the integration of psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy represents a relevant strategy for the treatment of adult ADHD, although challenges remain that need to be overcome to ensure greater effectiveness of this approach in clinical practice.