ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4 percent of the population. It is accompanied with a high rate of comorbidity, such as depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs, and significant social, emotional and occupational impairments.
Medications and psychotherapy are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD report significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning in response to medications. It is important that people who suffer from ADHD discover the right combination of medication that works for them.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants like amphetamines or methylphenidate. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid form and can be taken as frequently as every three to four hours. Some adults can supplement their immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medicine used once per day to decrease the need for frequent dosing throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD are also successfully treated with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of drugs may be employed in conjunction with stimulants, or alone to enhance their effects. They may also increase the danger of serious side effects, including rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam and clonidine can also be utilized to treat adults with ADHD. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They are calming and can help improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in certain adults. These medications can result in extremely low blood pressure if they are suddenly stopped, or the dosage is reduced.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help them cope with their feelings of shame and embarrassment over their ADHD as well as resentment toward co-workers, supervisors teachers, family members and others who might nag or criticize them. Additionally counseling for marriage and families can help couples suffering from ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to teach skills and strategies that improve performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help individuals who suffer from ADHD overcome their low self-esteem, and the feeling of inadequacy they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also referred to as cognitive behavior therapy, assists people to change negative thoughts and emotions that cause problems in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term, goal-oriented kind of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for a variety of illnesses such as anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatments.
CBT can involve group therapy, which can be particularly helpful for adults with ADHD because it gives the opportunity to interact with other people with similar challenges and to discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be provided in person or via phone. In one study, CBT was compared to standard therapy for adults who have ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting indicators like symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
CBT has been compared to other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from medium to large. adhd treatment for adults medication were attributed to a variety of modalities such as cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving training and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required in comparing the effectiveness of various treatments for adult ADHD. It is likely that the different outcomes of the treatments are due to a variety of variables that include the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used, and patient backgrounds. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This method involves wearing a hat with electrodes while doing cognitive tasks to determine brain regions where there is excessive or inadequate activity. The person is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD also have anxiety or mood disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help address these problems, which may be contributing to the ADHD symptoms. Some psychotherapy approaches include interpersonal therapy to enhance a person's ability to build meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to transform negative behaviors and help manage self-destructive and impulsive behavior that can cause problems at work or school.
In certain cases psychotherapy may be utilized as an adjunct to the medication used for adhd treatment for adults. Patients with comorbid disorders such as depression, substance abuse and bipolar disorder need to be assessed to ensure their symptoms are not worsened through the use of medications to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history or seizures, must be treated with more vigor.
When ADHD is severe enough to interfere with the quality of life and daily functioning, intensive outpatient programs may be recommended. These programs offer more intensive and controlled treatment than standard outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of cognitive therapy, helps adults with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time planning, impulse control and executive function. It helps them recognize and express their feelings and utilizes worksheets and activities to make the lessons more interesting. Mindfulness meditation training enhances CBT, and it improves a person's ability to focus and control their emotions. It also increases a person's ability to handle stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness, and other emotions which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD report difficulties functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting their work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and may lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help boost your self-esteem, solve the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it teaches you how to modify your negative beliefs and behavior. adhd in adults characterization diagnosis and treatment focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions which contribute to negative moods, and the perception that there are only a few choices.
Many people suffering from ADHD have depression or anxiety disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or increase the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended to treat the most severe comorbid condition and then monitor its reaction to the medication prior treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can teach you how to manage your life and your work, set up predictable routines, manage time and money and build an optimistic self-image. It can also help you learn techniques for relaxation that can reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. Yoga and other workouts can help you improve focus by ensuring your body is stable in various poses.
Family and marriage counseling can address the issues adults with ADHD often create for their spouses, children and others. They often complain about being undependable and unorganized. They also tend to forget things or make decisions impulsively. You can build stronger relationships by educating your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can aid you and your family members understand that the problem is caused by ADHD and not an inability to care or a refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity. This includes depression, anxiety and addiction disorders. Psychosocial and medication interventions are available as treatments. There are a variety of medications available for adults suffering from ADHD, and some of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted the strengths and limitations of the medications.
Adults who suffer from ADHD may experience the same symptoms as children do, but it is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of childhood may not persist in adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD might not have any family history of the disorder or might not remember the symptoms. It is crucial to take a thorough medical history to determine if the symptoms are due to an illness such as thyroid problems such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision problems.
Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. The stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their responsiveness rates range between 70 and 70% to 80%. The most popular stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate is also accessible in a transdermal system, which permits continuous supply of medication throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic and has been shown to be effective in adult patients with ADHD. It is a low dose medicine and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL is another antidepressant that has been shown to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that is able to block the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic transportation system, thus increasing its presence in the brain. This drug has been proven to improve mood in adults and decrease hyperactivity, but it's not as effective in improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.