Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adults with adhd is based on therapy, medication and support from family members. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant medication. But they need to be constantly monitored. That includes monthly clinical appointments, and frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
A variety of medications can be utilized to treat symptoms of ADHD among adults. These are known as psychostimulants. They work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will select the right medication for you, and determine the best dosage and schedule. It could take a while to determine the proper dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
Stimulants are usually the first prescription medication doctors recommend for adults suffering from ADHD. These medicines increase the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which enhances your ability to focus and control impulses. These medicines are available in short-, medium-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 cause adverse reactions than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they can cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines such as atomoxetine, (Strattera), are used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause undesirable side effects. These medications don't alter your dopamine or norepinephrine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and improve your ability to concentrate. These capsules are consumed once or two times a day.
Some adults with ADHD also have other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. These are known as comorbid disorders and can affect how you respond to treatment for ADHD. It is essential to treat any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. Patients with a history of substance abuse disorders 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 involves talking and discussing topics that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist listens to the person and provides advice based on her education, training and experience, professional credentials and therapeutic philosophical philosophies. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues or longer-term (months or years) in which a patient is working on more complex and long-standing issues. The therapist and the patient determine the duration and frequency of treatment.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy assists people in improving their abilities to organize their lives, manage their time and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies for managing emotions like anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms and increase focus, leading to more efficient and successful academic and work performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely of having co-existing disorders. This is especially relevant for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is crucial that any co-existing disorders be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different types and doses of medication than that used to treat ADHD.
A person who suffers from ADHD may also suffer from hypertension. Selecting a medication that addresses the ADHD symptoms but does not destabilize the patient's hypertension that is controlled requires understanding how different medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between different medications.
It is essential to locate a therapist who has had experience working with adults suffering from ADHD and with whom you feel comfortable. It is also crucial to schedule your first few sessions when you won't be distracted by family responsibilities or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults suffering from ADHD face many challenges in their lives, such as difficulties in their relationships and at work. They may also feel anger, blame and frustration that have built up in their lives due to their symptoms. Several psychosocial treatments have been proven to help them and their families learn new behaviors, skills, and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people alter their behavior and thinking. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, as well as teaching strategies for improving organization and self-esteem. It may be done in groups or individually. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults with ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al. 2002).
In made my day to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also need counseling to deal with specific life challenges. This could include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behaviors, or difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help teach how to handle these situations, improve communication and improve problem-solving skills. It can also improve relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Family therapy and supportive group therapy are two other types of psychotherapy that could be used to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and learn skills to reduce conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child who has ADHD. It can aid parents understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive outcomes in their children.
Adults with ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their physicians and disclose any other medications, such as over-the prescription drugs. Some medications can interact with certain medications or trigger side effects that are worsened by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is established, it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure that he or she is receiving the benefits of medication and not experiencing side effects. It is recommended to see patients for initial medical monitoring within 30 days after starting treatment, and then every month thereafter. This will allow for a thorough 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. It also helps to avoid the patient from being kept taking insufficient doses (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses to unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who are not responding effectively to stimulant medications or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medication could be recommended. This is usually the case with the methylphenidate based atomoxetine alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have comorbid disorders such as mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse issues or depression. They may also have medical problems like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. It is essential to identify and analyze these conditions in the initial assessment for ADHD because they can have a significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be controlled through marital therapy. Couples complain of being overwhelmed by the caretaking duties of their spouses suffering from ADHD and may become angry or resentful as a consequence. increasing the awareness of the patient about the symptoms of his/her illness and helping to understand that these are not willful actions or lack of affection can help to reduce marital tensions and resentment. Couples who undergo this kind of therapy tend to have better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their abilities to manage their time, focus and control an impulsive behaviour. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work and home environments more effectively. Psychotherapy also helps patients understand how their condition impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help alleviate the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that is commonly seen in people with ADHD who are considered lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders can be akin to ADHD symptoms. For instance anxiety disorders are found at a higher rate in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found in greater numbers among people suffering from the disorder. If it is necessary, the presence of other psychiatric disorders should be analyzed to determine whether ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is usually recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that the combination of psychotherapy with medication produces better results than either treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should aim to measure and track the effects of functional improvements, such as better performance at work, school, and interpersonal relationships.