Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adults with adhd focuses on medication, therapy and support from family members. People can also participate in clinical trials that test new approaches to treating ADHD.
Adults with ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant medication. But they need to be monitored regularly. This includes regular clinical appointments as well as frequent reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medicines
Many medications can be used to reduce symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you and will determine the most effective dose and time to take it. It could take some time to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
Stimulants are often the first medication doctors prescribe for adults suffering from ADHD. These medications increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which increase your ability to focus and manage impulses. These medicines are available in short-, medium-and long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last around 6 hours, intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours, and long-acting drugs last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have less adverse effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting drugs, however they can still cause an increase in appetite and sleepiness.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause undesirable side negative effects. These medications don't alter your dopamine or norepinephrine however they do increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain and improve your ability to focus. The capsules are taken one or two times a day.
Certain adults suffering from ADHD also have other psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. These disorders are referred to as comorbidities, and they can influence how you respond to ADHD treatment. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is important to address any comorbid issues. People who have a history of substance abuse disorders are more likely to use psychostimulants. It is recommended to wait until a person has quit using drugs before using stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves discussing and discussing issues that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist offers guidance based upon his or her education, experience, credentials and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks or even months) or addressing more immediate issues, or longer-term. The duration and frequency of treatment is determined by the patient and therapist together.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is a highly effective way to treat adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their ability to manage their time, organize and prioritizing; it can also teach strategies for managing emotions such as anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms and increase concentration, which results in more effective and efficient academic and work.
Adults who suffer from ADHD have a higher risk of co-existing conditions. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It is important that any co-existing condition be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing disorders might require different kinds of medication and doses than the ones prescribed to treat ADHD.
For instance, a patient with ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. Selecting treatment for adults with add that addresses the ADHD symptoms but does not destabilize the patient's hypertension which is being controlled requires knowledge of how different medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose the right professional with whom you share a a good relationship, and who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's also important to schedule your initial sessions in a time when you aren't distracted by your family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD often face many problems in their lives, such as relationships and work issues. They may also feel anger, blame and frustration that have built up in their lives due to their symptoms. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven to help their families and patients learn new attitudes, skills and ways of communicating.
Psychotherapy can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of psychotherapy that assists individuals change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and teaching strategies to improve organization and self-esteem. It can be conducted in individual or group sessions. Metacognitive therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms among adults with ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson et al., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also require counseling to address specific life challenges. These difficulties could include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, or difficulty in dealing with disappointments and failures. Counseling can teach strategies to help deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving skills. It can also improve relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD are family therapy and supportive group therapy. These therapies can assist families in coping and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can also assist parents to learn about the disorder and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
Adults with ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their physicians and inform them of any other medications, such as over-the counter drugs. Some medications can cause side effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is made, it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to visit patients for initial clinical assessment within 30 days of beginning treatment, and then every month following that. This allows for the proper titration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated and effective dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patient's response and prevents the patient from being a the patient with a sensitive response on doses that are not sufficient.
For adults who are not responding adequately to stimulant medication or have intolerable side effects the use of non-stimulant drugs could be recommended. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine or other methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders, like depression or substance abuse. Additionally, they may suffer from chronic sleep disorders or medical issues such as hearing and vision problems. It is crucial to identify and assess these conditions in the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant impact on functional impairment in adults.
Marital therapy can be helpful in managing ADHD. Couples complain of being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses suffering from ADHD and can become angry or resentful due to this. Making the patient aware of the symptoms of his/her condition and helping them understand that these are not willful actions or lack of affection can help to reduce marital tensions and resentment. Couples who undergo this type of therapy tend to have better functioning families.
Behavioral Therapy
For those who suffer from ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their abilities to manage their time and focus, as well as control an impulsive behaviour. It helps patients manage their work, home and social settings in more productive ways. Psychotherapy can also help patients understand how their condition affects different areas of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are commonly seen in adults with ADHD. They might be perceived by others as lazy or inexperienced.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by many psychiatric disorders. For example, anxiety disorders occur at high rates in adults ADHD patients and depression is observed in greater numbers among adults with the disorder. If necessary the presence of other psychiatric disorders must be analyzed to determine if ADHD symptoms are a result of them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is utilized results are more favorable than treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should aim to measure and track the improvement in functional aspects such as improved performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships.