Motivational Interviewing–Enhanced CBT for Adults with ADHD
Official title: Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Adults with ADHD
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11457017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program tests whether adding Motivational Interviewing to CBT helps adults with ADHD engage in treatment and improve daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $895,798 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH146153-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) with ADHD who are seeking non-medication treatment and can participate in telepsychology-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who cannot participate in psychotherapy or telehealth formats may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on adults with ADHD who may struggle with sticking to therapy. It tests CBT alone versus CBT plus Motivational Interviewing in a real-world US setting, using a randomized design with both clients and therapists being assigned by chance. Therapists are licensed psychologists delivering care through telepsychology to 72 independent providers across the country, with 216 adult participants targeted. The study includes an initial small pilot phase to refine procedures before full implementation. If successful, it could show a practical way to enhance adult ADHD treatment in everyday clinical practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience greater engagement in therapy and better daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work supports CBT for adult ADHD and MI in other populations, but this is the first large randomized trial combining CBT+MI for adults with ADHD in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sibley, Margaret Harper — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sibley, Margaret Harper
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.