Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adults with adhd includes therapy, medication and support from family members. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. They require monitoring regularly. That includes monthly clinical appointments, and frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
Many medications can be used to reduce symptoms of ADHD among adults. They are referred to as psychostimulants. they alter the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will determine the right medication for you, and determine the best dosage and timetable. It may take a while to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
The first medication doctors prescribe to adults with ADHD is stimulants. They increase the amount of dopamine in your brain and norepinephrine, which helps you to control your thoughts and improve your focus. These medicines are available in short-, medium- and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants last for 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have fewer negative effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medicines, but they still cause an increase in appetite and sleepiness.
Nonstimulant drugs, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause unwanted adverse negative effects. These medicines don't affect your norepinephrine or dopamine levels however they do increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain, and improve your ability to focus. These medications are in capsules and can be taken either twice or three times each day.
Some adults with ADHD may also suffer from other psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and depression. These are known as comorbid disorders 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. It is recommended to wait until a person has quit using drugs before treating them with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process of talking and discussing issues that could be troubling or troubling to someone. The therapist listens and provides guidance based on his or his or her training, education and experience as well as professional qualifications and therapeutic theories. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with more immediate challenges or longer-term (months or years) where a person is working on more complex and long-standing issues. adult adhd treatment and therapist decide on the duration and frequency of therapy.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy assists people in improving their organizational skills, time management and prioritizing; it can also teach methods to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and improve concentration, which results in more efficient and successful academic and work performance.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely of co-existing conditions. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like anxiety and depression. It is crucial that any co-existing conditions be treated before beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different types and dosages of medication than that used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a patient with ADHD may also have hypertension. Finding a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms but doesn't affect the patient's tentatively controlled hypertension requires knowledge of how different medications affect people over time and an understanding of the interactions between different medications.
It's important to find the right therapist with whom you have good relations, and who has experience treating adults with ADHD. It is crucial to schedule your initial sessions at a time when you will not be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, such as issues in their relationships and at work. A person with ADHD may be prone to anger, frustration and blame that has developed over time. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven effective in helping them and their families learn new attitudes, skills and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people alter their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, training and practicing of skills, as well as methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. It can be conducted in groups or individually. Metacognitive therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson et al., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD require counseling to deal with specific life challenges. These may include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behavior, or difficulty dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop strategies to manage these situations, improve communication, and enhance problem-solving abilities. It can also enhance relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are also types of psychotherapy that can be used to treat ADHD. These can help families cope with the anxiety of having a child who has ADHD and develop skills to improve communication and reduce conflicts. It can also help parents recognize the symptoms and develop parenting styles that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
It is important for people with 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. Some medications can cause adverse effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is established, it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of medication and not experiencing side effects. It is recommended to see a patient for the initial medical monitoring within 30 days of starting treatment and then every month following that. 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 patient's response. It also helps to avoid the patient from being kept on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses onto unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who are unable to respond adequately to stimulant medication or experience uncontrollable side effects the use of non-stimulant drugs might be suggested. Typically this involves the use of atomoxetine or other alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD typically suffer from comorbid disorders like mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. They may also have medical problems like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. As part of the initial evaluation for ADHD it is crucial to identify for these conditions and then evaluate the severity of them. These conditions could have a significant impact on functional impairments in adults.
ADHD can also be treated through marital therapy. Spouses often report that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses with ADHD and may become resentful and angry due to this. Reduced resentment can be achieved by increasing the patient's awareness of their illness, and helping them understand that the symptoms aren't the result of a lack in love 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 can help patients to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus and control their the impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their home, work, and social situations in more productive ways. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their disorder impacts different areas of their life and relationships. This can reduce the shame and low-esteem that are often seen among adults with ADHD. They might be perceived by others as being lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders may be akin to ADHD symptoms. For example, anxiety disorders occur at high rates in adult ADHD patients and depression is seen at higher levels in those suffering from the disorder. The presence of other mental health problems should be assessed in order to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with an amalgamation of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been demonstrated that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is used, the results are better than treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to track and measure the effects of functional improvements, such as better functioning at school, workplace, and interpersonal relationships.