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ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common disorder of the nervous system that affects 44 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity (depression, anxiety, substance abuse) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD have significant improvement in their symptoms and performance as a result of medication. Due to the various ways that people respond to medication, it is important for individuals with ADHD to find a combination that works best.
Stimulants, like amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms and can be taken as often as every three to four hours. Adults can augment an immediate-release medication with an extended-release long-acting medication once a week to reduce the necessity to take it regularly throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD are also treated effectively with antidepressants, like desipramine. This class of drugs can be used on its own or in conjunction with stimulants to increase their effects. However, they could increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects such as rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated with alprazolam or clonidine. They are both Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. These drugs, initially developed to treat high blood pressure, have a calming effect and can improve focus and decrease the level of hyperactivity and impulsivity among certain adults. These medications can cause extremely low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is decreased.
Psychotherapy is also useful for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual talk therapy helps people to overcome feelings of embarrassment, shame, and resentment towards co-workers and supervisors, teachers and family members who might criticize or nag them. In addition counseling for marriage and families can help couples suffering from ADHD be able to recognize each other's challenges and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD aims to improve daily functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can help those who suffer from ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the sense of failure they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that cause difficulties in their lives and to discover new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety. It can be used in conjunction with other therapies or alone.
CBT could involve group therapy, which can be particularly beneficial for people with ADHD because it gives the opportunity to interact with other people with similar challenges and to learn how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or by phone. In one study, CBT was compared to conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD. Both treatments improved self-report measures like symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD and all have shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect size. These improvements were associated with various modalities such as cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is advised in comparing the efficacy of different treatments for adults with ADHD. It is possible that the variations in the outcomes reflect a number of variables, including the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used as well as the backgrounds of the patients. A few studies have examined the effectiveness of neurofeedback, an approach that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while performing cognitive tasks to identify areas in the brain that there is too much or little activity, and instructing the individual to control these patterns.
untreated adhd in female adults with ADHD also suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help with these issues that may be contributing ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy methods include the use of interpersonal therapy to improve the ability of a person to form meaningful relationships and to resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to alter negative behaviors and assist in reducing self-destructive and impulsive behavior that can lead to problems at work or school.
In certain cases psychotherapy is sometimes used in combination with medication for adults adhd treatment. Patients suffering from comorbid disorders such as addiction to substances, depression and bipolar disorder must be assessed to ensure their symptoms are not worsened through the use of medications to treat ADHD. Visit Webpage , such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history or seizures, need to be treated more aggressively.
Outpatient intensive programs may be recommended if the person's ADHD is so severe that it significantly affects their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs offer more intensive and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD improve their ability to manage their time, impulse control, executive function, and planning. It teaches them to recognize and express their emotions and uses exercises and worksheets to make the learning interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance CBT and improves the ability of a person to focus and manage emotions. It increases the capacity of a person to tolerate the effects of stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness and other emotional issues that may be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. These issues can also impact relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you to improve your self-esteem and solve the underlying issues. It will also help you develop healthy ways of coping.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful treatment for adults with ADHD because it teaches you how to modify your negative beliefs and behaviors. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions which contribute to negative moods, and the perception of limited possibilities.
Many adults with ADHD also suffer from comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or even increase the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended that you first treat the most severe comorbidity and then observe its reaction to the medication prior treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work, establish predictable routines to manage your time and money and build a positive image of yourself. It can help you master relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other exercises can help you concentration by stabilizing your body during various postures.
Counseling for families and marriage can address the issues people with ADHD often create for their spouses, children and their families. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. You can build stronger relationships by informing your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can help you and your family members realize that the problems are due to ADHD, rather than a lack in caring or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is highly prevalent. It is often associated with other disorders that are comorbid, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication interventions are available as treatments. A wide range of medications are available for adults with ADHD and a few of them have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the drugs.
Adults suffering from ADHD might experience the same symptoms that children do, but it can be difficult to identify because childhood symptoms might not persist in adulthood. In addition, adults who suffer from ADHD might not have a family history of the disorder in their family or may not be aware of having symptoms. It is essential to take an extensive medical history to determine whether the symptoms are caused by an illness, like thyroid issues, sleep apnea or hearing and vision problems.
Treatments for adults suffering from ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. Stimulants are the most effective medications to treat adults suffering from ADHD and their response rates are in the 70%-80% range. Amphetamine as well as methylphenidate are the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate is also available as a transdermal solution, that allows for continuous supply of medication throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that work by affecting norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine, the most researched tricyclic, has been proven to be effective in adult ADHD patients. It is a low dose medication and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every seven days until the desired effect 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 that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transporter, increasing its availability in brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and reduce hyperactivity in adults. However, it isn't as effective as stimulants in improving concentration or cognitive function.