ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known disorder of the nervous system that affects around 4,4 percent of the population. It is associated with a high rate of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Both psychotherapy and medication are effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most frequently prescribed medications are stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD report significant improvements in their symptoms as well as functioning in response to medications. Due to the various ways that people react to medications, it is essential for those with ADHD to discover a combination that is most effective.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants, such as methylphenidate or amphetamines. These stimulants are available as liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hour. Some adults supplement an immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medicine that is taken daily to lessen the need for frequent dosing throughout the day.
Desipramine and other antidepressants have also been proven to be effective in treatment of adults with ADHD. This class of drugs may be used together with stimulants or on their own to boost their effects. However, had me going could increase the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects like a rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam and clonidine can also be used to treat adults with ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They are calming and can help improve focus and reduce the amount of hyperactivity and impulsivity in certain adults. However, these drugs can cause a drop in blood pressure when they are abruptly removed or reduced in dosage.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy can help them deal with feelings of shame and embarrassment over their ADHD and anger toward supervisors, colleagues teachers, and family members who may nag or criticize them. In addition counseling for families and marriages can help couples suffering from ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD aims to improve daily functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can help people with ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the feeling of inadequacy they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy, assists people to change negative thoughts and feelings that are causing difficulties in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for many disorders such as anxiety and depression. It can be utilized in conjunction with other therapies or by itself.
CBT can involve group therapy, which is particularly helpful for adults with ADHD because it gives the opportunity to meet others with similar challenges and to learn from others how they manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be offered in person or via the phone. One study compared the effects of CBT in comparison to conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments led to improvement in self-report assessments of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for people with ADHD and have all shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms with medium to large effect size. These improvements were attributed to various modalities, including interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy as well as social skills training, problem solving training, as well as mindfulness meditation.
It is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for adults with ADHD with caution. It is likely that the differences in outcome results reflect a number of variables such as the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used and the background of the patient. Few studies have examined the effectiveness neurofeedback. This method involves wearing an electrode-lined hat while doing cognitive tasks to pinpoint brain areas in which there is excessive or inadequate activity. The person is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD also suffer from comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these problems, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is among the psychotherapy approaches which can improve the ability of a person to resolve conflicts and build lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to alter negative behaviors and help manage self-destructive and impulsive behavior which can lead to issues at school or work.
In certain cases, psychotherapy can be used in conjunction with medications for adults who are seeking treatment for adhd. Patients with multiple disorders like substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder must be assessed to ensure their symptoms aren't aggravated by medications used to treat ADHD. People who suffer from certain medical issues, including thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, need to be treated more aggressively because they are more at risk of complications from medication.
In-depth outpatient programs could be suggested if the individual's ADHD is so severe that it affects their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs offer an organized treatment that is more intensive than the traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of cognitive therapy, helps adults suffering from ADHD to improve their ability to manage time, impulse control, planning and executive function. It helps them recognize and express their emotions and utilizes worksheets and activities to make the learning more interesting. Mindfulness meditation training enhances CBT and improves a person's ability to focus and manage their emotions. It also increases a person's ability to tolerate anxiety and stress. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger and other emotional issues which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and may result in financial issues. Therapy that addresses these issues can help increase self-esteem, address the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative beliefs and behaviors. It is focused on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that can cause negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of possibilities.
Many people suffering from ADHD have anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or increase the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended you treat the most severe comorbid disorder first and observe the effect of medication prior to attempting treatment for the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your work and life, establish predictable routines to control your time and money and build an optimistic image of yourself. It can also help you learn relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Additionally yoga and other exercises can help you focus better by ensuring your body is stable in various poses.
Family and marriage counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to solve the problems they cause their spouses, kids and others. They often complain about being erratic and unorganized. They often forget things or make decisions impulsively. Classes and therapy in which spouses and other family members are taught about ADHD can help you develop more harmonious relationships. It can help you and your family members realize that the problem is caused by ADHD instead of a lack in caring or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly common neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication treatments are available as treatments. A variety of medications are available for adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the medication.
Adults with ADHD may experience the same symptoms that children have, but it's difficult to diagnose because childhood symptoms might not persist in adulthood. Adults who suffer from ADHD might not have any family background of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. A thorough medical history is important to help determine whether the symptoms are due to a medical condition such as a thyroid problem or sleep apnea. It could also be due to issues with vision and hearing or lead poisoning.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest reaction rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their responsiveness rates range from 70 to 70% to 80%. The most popular stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate can also be administered through a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take non-stimulant drugs that are based on norepinephrine, or dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose drug and should be increased by 50 mg every seven days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant that has been proven to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter, increasing its availability in brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults, but it is not as effective as stimulants when it comes to improving concentration or cognitive function.