Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated through medication, therapy, and family support. Individuals can also take part in clinical trials that test new approaches to treating ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to benefit from stimulant medications. They require monitoring regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor as well as frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications are called psychostimulants. They function by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will select the right medication for you and will decide the most appropriate dosage and time to take it. It may take a while to determine the appropriate medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
The first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. They increase the amount of dopamine that is present in your brain, and also norepinephrine which helps you to control your thoughts and improve your focus. They are available in short-, intermediate- and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants last about 6 hours, intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours, and long-acting drugs last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause adverse effects than intermediate or shorter-acting medications. However, they may induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine, (Strattera), are used to treat adults with ADHD if stimulants do not perform or cause undesirable side effects. These medications do not alter your dopamine or norepinephrine levels however they do increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine and improve your concentration. These medications are available in capsule form and are taken twice or once a day.
Many people with ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, like anxiety and depression. These are known as comorbid disorders and they can influence how you react to treatment for ADHD. It is important to address any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have a history of substance use disorder may be more likely to abuse psychostimulants. This is why it's often advisable to wait until the patient has stopped using substances before considering treatment with stimulants for ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that involves discussing and discussing issues that are troubling or disturbing for a person. The therapist listens to the person and provides guidance based on his or their education, training, experience professional credentials and therapeutic theories. Psychotherapy could be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues or more long-term (months or years) where a person is working on more complex and long-standing issues. The duration and frequency of therapy is decided by the therapist and the patient together.
Psychotherapy and medication are an extremely effective way to treat adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help individuals improve their time management, organizational skills and prioritizing. It can also teach methods to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms and increase concentration, which results in more efficient and successful academic and work performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD have a higher risk of having co-existing disorders. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It is essential that any co-existing disorders be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing conditions may require different types of medication and doses than those that are used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD can also have hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but does not destabilize the patient's tentatively controlled hypertension requires understanding how different medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between different 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 important to schedule your first few sessions at times when you won't be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD face many challenges in their lives, such as difficulties in their relationships and at work. They may also experience anger, blame, and frustration that have built up in their lives due to their symptoms. Several psychosocial treatments have been proven effective in helping their families and patients learn new skills, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, as well as methods to help increase self-esteem and organizational skills. It can be carried out in groups or individually. Metacognitive therapy has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD also require counseling to address specific challenges. These challenges may include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, and difficulty coping with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help teach strategies to manage these situations, improve communication and improve problem-solving skills. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in long-term marriages or other partnerships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD are family therapy and supportive group therapy. These can assist families to cope with the anxiety of having a child who has ADHD and help improve communication and reduce conflict. It can also help parents recognize the symptoms and develop parenting styles that promote positive outcomes for their children.
It is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to discuss their medication with their healthcare providers regularly, and to reveal all other medications they're taking, including prescription drugs. Some medications can interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis, it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure that he/she reaps the benefits of the medication and does not suffer from side adverse effects. It is recommended that a patient be referred for initial clinical monitoring within 30 days of starting treatment, and every month following that. In treating adults with adhd of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines) this allows for thorough titration to an effective and well-tolerated dose. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's response. It also assists in avoiding having sensitive patients remain on insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses to excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who do not respond adequately to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medications may be indicated. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have 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. It is crucial to identify and analyze these conditions in the initial assessment for ADHD because they could have a significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
Marital therapy is also useful in the management of ADHD. Many spouses report that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities to care for their spouses with ADHD and can become resentful and angry as a result. Reducing resentment can be achieved by enhancing the understanding of his/her illness, and helping them to understand that the symptoms aren't caused by an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who go through this kind of therapy usually experience improved family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For those who suffer from ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients improve their organization skills, focus, and control impulsive behaviors. It helps patients manage their home, work, and social situations in more productive ways. Psychotherapy also helps patients understand how their condition affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help alleviate the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are often experienced by adults with ADHD who are thought of as lazy or insufficiently intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders can be akin to ADHD symptoms. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be assessed according to the need, to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been proven that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is utilized, the results are better than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to measure and assess the effects of functional improvement, like improved functioning in school as well as in the workplace and interpersonal relations.