Newly published: How effective is emotion regulation training for adolescents with ADHD?
Young people with ADHD often find it difficult to deal with strong or difficult emotions. A recently published study investigated a new psychological treatment designed to help them improve their emotional regulation.
Researchers at Stockholm University and Uppsala University have investigated the effects of a new psychological treatment, ER-SKILLS, for young people with ADHD. The goal of ER-SKILLS treatment is to provide tools and skills for managing emotions when things get tough.
Seven girls aged 13–17 with ADHD and their guardians participated in the treatment study. To determine whether the treatment was effective, each participant was closely monitored over time and asked to answer questions about their well-being and feelings on an ongoing basis. The purpose of the study was to measure and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the treatment.
The treatment plan consisted of eight individual sessions led by a psychologist, focusing on identifying, understanding, accepting, and managing emotions through various strategies such as situational training and distraction. In some parts, both young people and guardians participated, and they had access to digital material and homework assignments.
The study in short
About the treatment
ER-SKILLS is a newly developed psychological treatment designed for young people with ADHD who have difficulty regulating their emotions. The treatment is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), as well as on the theoretical model Extended Process Model for emotion regulation.
Study method
The study used a single-case experimental design (SCED), a method that follows a small number of participants over time with repeated measurements. Each participant acts as their own control, enabling detailed analysis of individual patterns of change and the effects of treatment. The factors measured included dropouts, adherence to treatment, participant engagement, satisfaction, perceived benefits, and any negative effects.
Results
The treatment was generally perceived as feasible and appreciated. The majority of young people and guardians would recommend the program and reported improved ability to manage emotions and ADHD symptoms. A few participants reported negative experiences, such as finding the treatment boring or ineffective.
The treatment can help young people to better understand their feelings and why they feel the way they do.
The study also evaluated how the treatment was received by participants and guardians. The results showed that the treatment was easy to implement, even though it was challenging for the young people to do the homework assignments that were included.
Matilda Frick, associate professor and one of the co-authors of the article, comments on the results:
– Six of the participating adolescents felt that they were better able to manage their emotions after treatment. However, several of them showed improvement during the baseline measurement, meaning before treatment began, which makes it more difficult to determine what caused the improvement.
– The analysis nevertheless suggests that treatment can help young people to better understand their feelings and why they feel the way they do,” says Matilda Frick.
Read the scientific article
Astenvald, R., Isaksson, M., Meyer, J., Lööf, M., Frick, M.A., & Isaksson, J. (in press). Emotion regulation training for adolescents with ADHD: a multiple-baseline single-case experimental study. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2025.2537812
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Last updated: November 3, 2025
Source: Department of Psychology