Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated through therapy, medication and support from the family. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective drugs for adults with ADHD. However, they must be monitored regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor and regular reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medications
Many medications can be used to reduce symptoms of ADHD among adults. These are called psychostimulants and they alter the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the best medication for you and will determine the most effective dose and time to take it. It could take some time to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
The first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These medicines increase the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which enhances your ability to concentrate and manage impulses. These medications are available in short-, mediumand long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants can last for 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause adverse effects than intermediate- or shorter-acting medications. However, they may induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
adults adhd treatment , such as atomoxetine (Strattera), can be used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medications don't affect your dopamine or norepinephrine levels however, they can increase the amount of norepinephrine, which improves your focus. The capsules are taken one or two times a day.
Some people with ADHD suffer from co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities and can affect your response to ADHD treatment. It is essential to treat any comorbid disorders prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have an addiction history to drugs or disorder may be more likely to abuse psychostimulants. This is why it's often advisable to wait until the patient has removed themselves from using substances before evaluating treatment with stimulants to treat ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves discussing and talking about topics that cause distress or anxiety to a person. The therapist listens and offers guidance based on his or her training, education and experience as well as professional qualifications and therapeutic theories. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a couple of weeks or months), addressing more immediate issues, or longer-term. The patient and therapist decide on the duration and frequency of therapy.
Psychotherapy and medication are an extremely effective method to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their ability to manage their time, organize and prioritizing; it can also teach techniques for managing emotions like anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms, improve concentration and improve work and academic performance.
Adults with ADHD have a higher risk of co-existing illnesses. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like anxiety and depression. It is crucial that any co-existing condition be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders could require different types and doses of medication than those used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD can also have hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but doesn't destabilize the patient's tentatively controlled hypertension requires knowledge of how various medications affect people over time, as well as an understanding of the interactions between medications.
It's important that you find a therapist who has expertise in treating adults with ADHD and with whom you feel at ease. It is crucial to schedule your first few sessions at a time when you will not be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, such as issues in their relationships and at work. People with ADHD can be prone to anger, frustration and guilt that has built up over time. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven to aid them and their families develop new skills, attitudes and ways of connecting.
Psychotherapy can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods to help improve organization and self-esteem. This can be accomplished individually or in a group. Metacognitive therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms in adults with ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson and colleagues., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also need counseling to address specific life issues. These challenges may include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behaviors, and difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help you develop the strategies to help manage these situations and improve the ability to communicate and solve problems. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, especially in long-term marriages or other relationships.
Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are other forms of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These can help families deal with the anxiety of having a child suffering from ADHD and teach skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It also helps parents recognize the symptoms and develop parenting styles that promote positive outcomes for their children.
It is important for people with ADHD to discuss their medication with their healthcare providers regularly, and to disclose any other medications they're taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Certain medications can interact with specific medications or cause adverse reactions that are made worse by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is made, it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of the medication and not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended that a patient be referred for initial clinical monitoring within 30 days of initiating treatment and monthly afterward. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this enables the gradual titration of an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's response. It also assists in avoiding keeping sensitive patients on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses onto unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who do not respond adequately to stimulant medication or have intolerable side effects the use of nonstimulant medication could be recommended. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other related methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders, such as depression or substance abuse. Moreover, they may have chronic sleep disturbances or medical problems such as vision and hearing disorders. It is important to screen and analyze these conditions as part of the initial assessment for ADHD because they can have a significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
Marital therapy is also useful in the management of ADHD. spouses feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can be angry or resentful due to this. Reduced resentment can be achieved by enhancing the patient's understanding of the condition, and assisting them understand that the symptoms aren't the result of an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who undergo this type of therapy tend to have better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD is typically advised. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy assists patients in improving their organization skills, focus and manage impulsive behavior. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work and home environments more efficiently. Psychotherapy also helps patients understand how their disorder impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help alleviate the self-doubt and shame that is commonly seen in those with ADHD, who may be viewed as inept or unintelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms. For instance anxiety disorders are seen at a higher rate in adults ADHD patients and depression is observed at increased levels in those suffering from the disorder. If needed, the presence of other psychiatric disorders should be evaluated to determine if ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated with an amalgamation of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been demonstrated that the combination of psychotherapy and medication produces better results than either therapy by itself. Future controlled studies will aim to measure and assess improvements in functional performance, for example, improved functioning in school, the workplace, and interpersonal relations.