Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from adhd are treated with therapy, medication, and family support. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Adults with ADHD are the most likely to benefit from stimulant medications. They must be monitored regularly. This means monthly appointments with a doctor and regular review of symptoms.
Medications
There are many drugs that can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications are called psychostimulants, and they work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you and will determine the best dose and schedule to take it. It could take some time to determine the proper dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are typically the first prescription medication doctors recommend for adults with ADHD. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine found in your brain and norepinephrine which helps you to control your thoughts and keep your focus. The medications are available in short-, mediumand long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants last around 6 hours, intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have fewer side effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medications, but they still can cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD if stimulants do not work or cause undesirable adverse effects. These medications don't affect your norepinephrine or dopamine however they do increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine and improve your focus. These capsules are consumed once or two times a day.
Certain adults suffering from ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, like depression and anxiety. These conditions are known as comorbidities and can influence how you respond to ADHD treatment. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is essential to address any comorbid issues. For instance, people who have a history of substance use disorder are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It is best to wait until someone has quit using drugs before taking them on with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that 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 education, training, experience professional credentials and therapeutic philosophies. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a couple of weeks or months) or addressing more immediate issues, or long-term. The duration and frequency of treatment is determined by the therapist and the patient together.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach methods to manage emotions such as anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms, improve focus, and result in better academic and work performance.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have co-existing conditions, particularly mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It is important that any co-existing conditions be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different types and doses of medication than that used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also suffer from hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but does not affect the patient's tentatively controlled hypertension requires knowledge of how various medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between various medications.
It is important to choose an therapist with whom you have an excellent relationship and who is experienced in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's also important to schedule your first few sessions when you're not distracted by your family obligations or work obligations.
add treatments for adults who suffer from ADHD typically face a variety of life challenges, including work and relationship problems. People with ADHD can also experience frustration, anger and blame that have been accumulated over time. Psychosocial treatments can help patients and their families to develop new skills, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type psychotherapy that helps people alter their habits and thoughts. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, and strategies for teaching that help improve self-esteem and organization. It can be carried out in groups or individually. Metacognitive therapy has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults with ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson et al., 2002).
Some people with ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome specific life challenges. These difficulties could include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behaviors, and difficulty coping with failures and disappointments. Counseling can teach strategies to help deal with these situations and increase the ability to communicate and solve problems. It can also help improve relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are also types of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and improve their skills to manage conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child who has ADHD. It can also assist parents to recognize the symptoms and develop parenting techniques that promote positive outcomes for their children.
It is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to discuss their medications with their health care professionals regularly, and to disclose all other medications they are taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Certain medications can interact with certain medications or cause side effects that are worsened by other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is made it is essential that the patient is monitored to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of medication and not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to see patients for initial clinical assessment within 30 days of starting treatment and then every month thereafter. This permits a thorough adjustment of psychostimulants like amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated, effective dose. adhd in adults treatment allows for accurate registration of the patient's response and helps to avoid having sensitive patients remain on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses on unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or suffer from adverse effects that are unpalatable might benefit from non-stimulant drugs. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders like depression or substance abuse. Additionally, they may suffer from chronic sleep disturbances or medical issues like hearing and vision disorders. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD it is crucial to identify for these conditions and then evaluate their severity. These conditions can have a significant impact on functional impairments for adults.
Marital therapy can also be beneficial in the management of ADHD. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking duties of their spouses suffering from ADHD and may be angry or resentful as a consequence. The way to reduce resentment is by increasing the patient's awareness of their condition, and assisting them to understand that the symptoms are not due to a lack in affection or willfulness. Couples who go through this kind of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include the cognitive-behavioral aspect. Behavioral therapy assists patients in learning to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus and control their the impulsive behavior. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work and home environments more efficiently. Psychotherapy can also help patients understand how their disorder affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This helps reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in people suffering from ADHD. They may be perceived by others as lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders mimic ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are seen at high rates in adults ADHD patients and depression is observed at higher levels in those suffering from the disorder. If it is necessary, the presence of other mental disorders should be analyzed to determine whether ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated with an amalgamation of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been shown that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is utilized the results are superior than treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to measure and track functional improvements such as improved functioning at school, workplace and interpersonal relationships.