Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated by therapy, medication, and family support. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
The stimulant medications are the most effective medications for adults suffering from ADHD. However, they must be monitored regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor and regular reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are known as psychostimulants, and they work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will select the most appropriate medication for your needs and will decide on the most appropriate dosage and schedule. It could take some time to find the right medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults with ADHD is stimulants. These medications increase the amount of dopamine found in your brain, and also norepinephrine which allows you to manage your impulses and keep your focus. They come in short-, intermediate-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 to cause adverse reactions than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they can induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
Nonstimulant drugs, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera), can be used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause unpleasant adverse side negative 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 medications are available in capsules and can be taken once or twice each day.
Some people with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities, and they can affect your response to ADHD treatment. It's important to treat any comorbid disorders prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have a history of substance use disorder may be more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It is best to wait until a person has stopped using drugs before taking them on with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process that involves talking and discussing topics that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist provides guidance in accordance with their training, experience, credentials and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues or longer-term (months or years) in which a patient is working on more complicated and longstanding issues. The duration and frequency of therapy is decided by the therapist and the patient together.
Psychotherapy and medication together are an extremely effective method to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their abilities to organize their lives, manage their time and prioritizing. It can also teach methods for managing emotions such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and improve focus, leading to more efficient and successful academic and work.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-existing issues, especially mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is essential that any co-existing conditions be treated before beginning treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing disorders may require different types of medication and doses than those that are used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a person who suffers from ADHD may also have hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension it is crucial to understand how different medications affect individuals over time as well as the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose an therapy provider with whom you have a a good relationship, and who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's also important to arrange your first few sessions during times when you're not distracted by your family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, including problems at work and in relationships. The person who has ADHD might also experience anger, frustration and blame that have been accumulated over time. Several psychosocial treatments have been proven to aid them and their families learn new skills, attitudes and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, training and practice of skills, and strategies for teaching that help improve self-esteem and organization. It can be done in a private or in a group setting. Some studies have shown that treatment for metacognitive disorders can reduce symptoms and improve performance in adults with ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD require counseling to deal with specific life challenges. These may include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulty dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can teach the how to handle these situations, improve communication and enhance problem-solving abilities. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in long-term marriages or other relationships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD are family therapy and supportive group therapy. These therapies can help families cope and improve their skills to manage conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can assist parents to understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that promote positive outcomes for their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD should discuss their medications regularly with their doctor and inform them of any other medications, including over the prescription drugs. Certain medications may interact with specific medications or cause side effects that are worsened by other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis, it is important to monitor the patient's progress to ensure that the patient receives the benefits of the medication and doesn't experience side adverse effects. It is recommended to visit a patient for the initial clinical monitoring within 30days after starting treatment and then every month thereafter. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) this enables the gradual titration of an effective and well-tolerated dose. This permits accurate recording of the patients' response and prevents the patient from being a sensitive patient on insufficient doses.
For adults who do not respond well to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medications could be recommended. Typically this involves the use of atomoxetine, or other alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually affected by comorbid disorders, like depression or substance abuse. Moreover, they may have chronic sleep disorders or medical problems such as hearing and vision disorders. It is crucial to identify and evaluate such conditions as part of the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be treated through marital therapy. Couples often say that they are overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses who have ADHD and may become resentful and angry due to this. Making the patient aware of the symptoms of his/her condition and helping to understand that these aren't willful acts or a lack of love can help reduce marital conflict and resentment. add treatment for adults who undergo this type of therapy usually experience improved family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For those who suffer from ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their ability to organize their lives, focus and control the impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their home, work and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy also 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 often experienced by those with ADHD, who may be viewed as lazy or less intelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by various psychiatric disorders. For example anxiety disorders are seen at a high rate in adult ADHD patients and depression is seen at increased levels in adults with the disorder. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be evaluated according to the need, to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are related to them.
A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is typically recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that the combination of psychotherapy and medication yields better results than either therapy alone. Future controlled medication studies will try to monitor and evaluate functional improvements, such as improved functioning in school, the workplace, and interpersonal relations.