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Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy pp 1–7Cite as

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Couple and Family Therapy

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Synonyms

ADHD in couples; ADHD marital therapy; Adult ADHD couple therapy; Counseling couples with ADHD

Introduction

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a genetically based, neurobiological disorder that begins in childhood but persists into adulthood at a rate of at least 65–70% (Barkley 2014). It is estimated that only one in ten adults with ADHD in the USA is diagnosed. Many of these adults are currently misdiagnosed with depression, anxiety, or other conditions. Couples wherein one or both partners have ADHD often experience excessive conflict and negative interactions that threaten or even end their relationships. The ADHD partner often listens poorly, fails to finish tasks or fulfill commitments, manifests inappropriate emotional outbursts, and generally acts in the relationship more like a child than an adult.

Compounding the potential for disruption to the couple and the family unit: Adult ADHD itself is associated with sequelae including higher than average...

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References

  • Barkley, R. A. (Ed.). (2014). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Publications.

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  • Benson, L. A., McGinn, M. M., & Christensen, A. (2012). Common principles of couple therapy. Behavior Therapy, 43(1), 25–35.

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  • Pera, G. A. (2014). Counseling couples affected by adult ADHD. In R. A. Barkley (Ed.), Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed., pp. 795–825). New York: Guilford Press.

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  • Pera, G. A., & Robin, A. L. (2016). Adult ADHD-focused couple therapy: Clinical interventions. New York: Routledge.

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  • Snyder, D. K., Schneider, W. J., & Castellani, A. M. (2003). Tailoring couple therapy to individual differences. In D. K. Snyder & M. A. Whisman (Eds.), Treating difficult couples: Helping clients with coexisting mental and relationship disorders (pp. 27–52). New York: Guilford Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA

    Gina Pera

  2. Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, USA

    Arthur L. Robin

  3. Dennis, Moye, and Associates, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

    Arthur L. Robin

Authors
  1. Gina Pera
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  2. Arthur L. Robin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gina Pera .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Jay Lebow

  2. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Anthony Chambers

  3. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Douglas C. Breunlin

Section Editor information

  1. Employee Assistance Program, McLeod Health, Florence, SC, USA

    Farrah Hughes Ph.D., ABPP

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Cite this entry

Pera, G., Robin, A.L. (2016). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_440-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_440-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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