Skip to main content
ABCT 2025 59th Annual Convention Main banner
Psychology Tools Ad
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Ticketed Session
Ticketed Session
Evaluation ViewAttendees 1

Adult -ADHD
Session Type:: Symposia

Symposium 9 - Advancing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD in Japan: Innovations and Cultural Adaptations

Friday, November 21, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM CST
Location: Celestin F, Level 3
CE: 1.5

Keywords: ADHD, Adult, Culture
Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate
Recommended Readings: Safren, S. A., Otto, M. W., Sprich, S., Winett, C. L., Wilens, T. E., & Biederman, J. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(7), 831–842.,   Ramsay, J. R., & Rostain, A. L.(2014). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: An Integrative Psychosocial and Medical Approach (English Edition), Routledge,   Knouse, L. E., Hu, X., Sachs, G., & Isaacs, S. (2022). Usability and feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral mobile app for ADHD in adults. PLOS Digital Health, 1(8),   Takamatsu, N., Nakashima, M., Matsuura, K., Umemoto, I., Ito, M., Kanazawa, J., Tomiyama, H., Kondo, M., Tachimori, H., Nakao, T., Horikoshi, M., & Kuga, H. (2024). A multicenter, single-group, open feasibility study of a new individual cognitive behavioral therapy program for adult Japanese patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A study protocol. Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Reports, 3.,  

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), demonstrating effectiveness in symptom and improving quality of life (QOL) (Ramsay & Rostain, 2015; Safren et al., 2005). However, its efficacy and accessibility vary across countries due to factors such as healthcare systems and cultural influences (Li & Zhang, 2023). Although the importance of CBT for ADHD treatment is increasingly recognized in Japan, its implementation remains limited. Culturally adapted interventions and innovative delivery methods are required to expand access to evidence-based treatments for ADHD. This symposium highlights efforts to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of CBT for adults with ADHD in Japan by incorporating digital technology and cultural adaptations.
The first presentation examines a case study of an adult with ADHD and ASD who experienced hikikomori for 15 years, highlighting the roles of CBT, ACT, and the CRAFT in facilitating social reintegration and employment. The second presentation reports the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on videoconferencing- based CBT for adult ADHD, examining its long-term effectiveness through one-year follow-up data. The third presentation explores the development process of culturally adapted CBT in Japan, identifies key barriers to ADHD-CBT implementation, and presents findings from a feasibility study on culturally adapted intervention strategies (Takamatsu et al., 2024). As no standardized CBT program for adults with ADHD currently exists in Japan, this study provides valuable insights into the feasibility of implementing CBT in the Japanese healthcare system. The final presentation introduces an AI-chatbot-based self-help CBT app for ADHD designed to enhance accessibility through digital interventions. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the methods.
The designated discussant, Laura E. Knouse, will provide an international perspective on these research findings and discuss how Japan’s experiences can contribute to the global development of ADHD treatment. Finally, the symposium concludes with a discussion on the cultural adaptation of CBT, future research directions, and policy challenges.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Identify key challenges in the dissemination of CBT for adult ADHD in Japan and understand cultural and institutional barriers.
  2. Explain how CBT for adult ADHD has been culturally adapted in Japan based on research conducted in the country.
  3. Discuss the role of digital interventions like videoconferencing and mobile apps in improving ADHD treatment accessibility.
  4. Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of different CBT delivery methods, including video-conferencing CBT and app-based CBT.
  5. Research findings on culturally adapted ADHD interventions can contribute to future clinical practice and research.

Presentations:

  • 3:06 PM - 3:27 PM CST
    (SYM 9) Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Adults with ADHD

    Speaker: Ikue Umemoto, M.A. (she/her/hers) – National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Japan

  • 3:27 PM - 3:48 PM CST
    (SYM 9) Long-term Effectiveness of Videoconference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Medication-treated Adults with ADHD : One-year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

    Speaker: Aiko Eto, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Chiba University

    Co-author: Tokiko Yoshidab, Ph.D (she/her/hers) – Chiba University

    Co-author: Ayumu Endo, Ph.D (he/him/his) – Komazawa University

    Co-author: Eiji Shimiz, Ph.D, M.D. (he/him/his) – Chiba University

  • 3:48 PM - 4:09 PM CST
    (SYM (9) A Case Study of an AI Chatbot-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Self-guided App

    Speaker: Daiki Takegawa, Other – Emol inc.

  • 4:09 PM - 4:30 PM CST
    (SYM (9) Case Study of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for 15 Years of Hikikomori with Adult ADHD and ASD Including Welfare-based Employment Support and Support for Parents

    Speaker: Junichiro Kanazawa, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Health Sciences University of Hokkaido