Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from adhd are treated by therapy, medication and support from family members. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. However, they must be closely monitored. This includes regular appointments with a physician and frequent reviews of symptoms.
Medicines
A variety of medications can be utilized to treat symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will determine the right medication for you and will decide on the most appropriate dosage and timetable. It may take a while to find the right dosage and medication that is able to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are often the first medication doctors prescribe for adults with ADHD. These medications increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which increase your ability to focus and control impulses. These medications are available in short-, medium- and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants can last up to up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medicines last for 8-10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16. Long-acting stimulants are less likely cause side effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they can still cause sleepiness and change in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine (Strattera), are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't perform or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medicines don't affect the levels of norepinephrine or dopamine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and increase your ability to concentrate. These capsules are consumed once or twice a day.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are known as comorbidities and can influence how you respond to ADHD treatment. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is essential to address any comorbid issues. For instance, people who have a history of substance use disorder may be more likely to use psychostimulants. For this reason, it is generally recommended to wait until a person has stopped using substances before considering treatment with stimulants to treat ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves discussing and discussing issues that cause distress or anxiety for a person. The therapist offers guidance on the basis of his or her qualifications, experience, training and therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues, or long-term (months or years) where a person is working to address more complex and long-standing issues. The duration and frequency of the treatment are determined by the patient and therapist together.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is an extremely effective treatment for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy assists people in improving their ability to manage their time, organize and prioritizing. It can also teach methods for managing emotions like anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, increase focus, and result in better work and academic performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely of having co-existing disorders. This is particularly relevant for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is essential to treat any co-existing conditions. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different forms and dosages of medication than those used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a patient who suffers from ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. To choose a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension, it is important to know how different medications affect individuals over time as well as the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose the right therapy provider with whom you have a a good relationship, and who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. It is crucial to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you won't be distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD face many challenges in their lives, including problems in their relationships and at work. They may also experience anger, blame, and frustration that have built up in their lives due to their symptoms. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven effective in helping their families and patients learn new behaviors, skills, and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type psychotherapy that assists people in changing their thinking and behavior. It includes goal-setting, skill training and practice, as well as methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. It may be done in groups or individually. A few studies have proven that the use of metacognitive therapy can reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and colleagues, 2002).
Certain people with ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain issues in their lives. These issues could include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behavior, and difficulties in dealing with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help you develop the techniques to deal with these situations and enhance the ability to communicate and solve problems. It can also improve interpersonal relationships, especially in long-term marriages or other relationships.
Family therapy and supportive group therapy are two other types of psychotherapy that could be used to treat ADHD. These can assist families to cope with the stress of having a child with ADHD and develop skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It can also assist parents to learn about the disorder and develop parenting styles that promote positive outcomes for their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and disclose any other medications, such as over-the prescription treatment for adhd drugs. Certain medications may interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough assessment and diagnosis, it is important to monitor the patient to ensure that the patient receives the benefits of the medication and does not experience side adverse effects. It is recommended that patients be seen for an initial medical check-up within 30 days of beginning treatment and then every month thereafter. This will allow for the proper titration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated, effective dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patients' response and helps avoid keeping patients who are sensitive to doses that are too low.
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or who have side effects that are intolerable might benefit from non-stimulant drugs. This typically involves the use of the methylphenidate based atomoxetine alternatives.
Adults with ADHD are usually affected by comorbid disorders like depression or drug abuse. They might also be suffering from medical issues like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD it is essential to detect these conditions and assess the severity of them. These conditions can have a significant impact on functional impairments for adults.
Marital therapy can also be beneficial in the treatment of ADHD. Many spouses report that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses who have ADHD and may become resentful and angry due to this. Increasing the patient's awareness of the symptoms of his/her illness and helping them realize that these aren't impulsive actions or a lack of affection can help reduce resentment and marital difficulties. Couples who go through this type of therapy usually experience improved family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD is typically recommended. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients improve their organization skills, focus and manage impulsive behavior. It teaches patients to manage their work, home and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are commonly seen in people suffering from ADHD. They might be perceived by others as being lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders be akin to ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are found at a higher rate in adult ADHD patients and depression is observed at increased levels in adults with the disorder. If necessary, the presence of other psychiatric disorders should be assessed to determine whether ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated with a combination of pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. It has been shown that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is used, the results are better than treatment on its own. Future controlled studies must attempt to measure and track the improvement in functional aspects such as improved performance at work, school, and interpersonal relationships.