Oriel Romano Celestin

With the rapid advancement of technology and social media, research and awareness about the correlation between neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD, and technology use has increased (Steve & Grubb, 2018). The ADHD diagnosis dates back to the 1960s, and due to its more recent origins, psychiatrists, behavioral health, and medical providers have an evolving understanding of the causes, impacts, prognosis, and outcomes of ADHD (Cortese & Coghill, 2018). ADHD is a complex mental health diagnosis due to its high levels of overdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and under recognition in both children and adults (Montano, 2004). In this case study, Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT), a novel treatment, was used to treat ADHD symptomatology and the underlying relational trauma related to the client’s symptomology. Throughout AIT treatment, the client was simultaneously treating ADHD symptomatology with psychiatric medication. AIT was utilized to assist the client in identifying the functionality of maladaptive intrapersonal patterns such as dissociation, intellectualization, overthinking, anxiety, denial, decision paralysis, and rumination with the goal of supporting the client in reprocessing and treating underlying relational wounds and traumas experienced from their family of origin.

 The case study took place over a span of 6 60-minute sessions. The clinician assessed client progress and symptomology using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire, Resilience Questionnaire, GAD-7 which measures anxiety symptomology, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire which examines attachment patterns in relationships, The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) which assess for PTSD/CPTSD symptomology, and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ARSR-v1.1) Symptom checklist which assesses for ADHD symptomatology. After treatment with AIT, the client self-reported that their ADHD symptoms were reduced. Additionally, the client reported that insight building allowed them to manage their symptomatology differently in the present day.