Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults with adhd are treated through medication, therapy, and family support. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.
The stimulant medications are the most effective medications for adults suffering from ADHD. They need to be monitored regularly. That includes monthly clinical appointments and regular reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
There are many medications that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are referred to as psychostimulants. They work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you and will decide the best dose and schedule to take it. It could take some time to determine the appropriate medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
Stimulants are often the first prescription medication doctors recommend for adults suffering from ADHD. They increase the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and control impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants last for up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have less adverse effects than shorterand intermediate-acting drugs, however they still cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD if stimulants do not perform or cause unwanted side effects. These medications don't affect the levels of dopamine or norepinephrine however they do increase the amount of norepinephrine, which improves your focus. These capsules are taken once or twice a day.
Some people with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and can affect the way you respond to treatment for ADHD. It is important to address any comorbidities prior to starting treatment for ADHD. Patients with a history of addiction to drugs are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. For this reason, it is generally recommended to wait until a person has quit using substances before considering treatment with stimulants to treat ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process that involves talking and discussing topics that are troubling or disturbing to the person. The therapist provides guidance based upon his or her education, experience, credentials, and therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy could be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with more immediate challenges, or long-term (months or years) in which a person is working on more complicated and longstanding issues. The therapist and the patient determine the length and frequency of treatment.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is a highly effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies to manage emotions such as anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, improve concentration and improve academic and work performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely of co-existing illnesses. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is crucial to treat any co-existing disorders. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different forms and dosages of medication than those used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a person who suffers from ADHD could also be suffering from hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension, it is important to understand how various medications affect people over time as well as the interactions between medications.
It's important that you locate a therapist who has experience treating adults with ADHD and with whom you feel at ease. It's also important to arrange your first few sessions during times when you won't be distracted by family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD often face many issues in their lives, including work and relationship problems. People with ADHD can also experience frustration, anger and blame that have developed over time. Psychosocial treatments can help patients and their families develop new abilities, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Psychotherapy can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that aids individuals to change their thinking and behavior. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, and methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organizational skills. This can be accomplished individually or in a group. Metacognitive therapy has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms in adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al. 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD require counseling to deal with specific life difficulties. These issues could include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behaviors, and difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can teach strategies to help deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving skills. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, especially in marriages or other long-term relationships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy and supportive group therapy. These can help families deal with the stress of having a child who has ADHD, as well as help improve communication and reduce conflicts. It can also assist parents to understand the disorder and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
It is essential for people with ADHD to discuss their medication with their healthcare providers regularly, and to inform them of all other medications they are taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with certain medications or trigger side effects that are worsened by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is made, it is essential to monitor the patient to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended that a patient be seen for a first clinical examination within 30 days of beginning treatment and then every month afterward. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this enables complete titration to an effective and well-tolerated dose. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's reaction and helps to avoid the patient from being kept on insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses onto excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who do not respond effectively to stimulant medications or have intolerable side effects the use of nonstimulant medications might be suggested. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other related alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults with ADHD often have comorbid disorders like mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse issues or depression. They may also suffer from medical problems like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD, it is important to screen for these conditions and then evaluate them. These conditions could have a significant impact on functional impairments in adults.
ADHD can also be controlled through marital therapy. treating adhd in adults report that they are overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can become angry and angry due to this. Making the patient aware of the symptoms of his/her illness and helping them realize that these aren't willful actions or a lack of affection can reduce marital tensions and resentment. Couples who go through this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is generally recommended. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus, as well as control an impulsive behaviour. It teaches patients to manage their home, work and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their disorder impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This helps reduce the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are often seen among people suffering from ADHD. They could be perceived by others as lazy or inexperienced.
Many psychiatric disorders may be akin to ADHD symptoms. For instance anxiety disorders are found at a higher rate in adult ADHD patients and depression is observed in greater numbers among people suffering from the disorder. The presence of other mental health issues should be analyzed, as appropriate, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is usually recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been proven that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is used results are more favorable than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to track and evaluate improvements in functional performance, for example, improvement in school performance or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.