Treating Executive Function in Youth With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Abstract

Introduction: Executive function (EF) deficits are common in youth with ADHD and pose significant functional impairments. The extent and effect of interventions addressing EF in youth with ADHD remain unclear. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using PRISMA guidelines. Included studies were randomized controlled trials of interventions to treat EF in youth with ADHD. Results: Our search returned 136 studies representing 11,443 study participants. We identified six intervention categories: nonstimulant pharmacological ( N = 3,576 participants), neurological ( N = 1,935), psychological ( N = 2,387), digital ( N = 2,416), physiological ( N = 680), and combination ( N = 366). The bulk of the evidence supported pharmacological interventions as most effective in mitigating EF, followed by psychological and digital interventions. Conclusion: A breadth of treatments exists for EF in youth with ADHD. Pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and digital interventions had the most favorable, replicable outcomes. A lack of outcome standardization across studies limited treatment comparison. More data on the persistence of intervention effects are necessary.