ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4 percent of the general population. It is accompanied with high rates of comorbidity, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, as well as significant social, emotional and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most frequently prescribed drugs are stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD notice significant improvements in their symptoms and functioning in response to medications. Because of the different ways people respond to medications it is crucial for people with ADHD to discover a combination that is effective.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most frequently prescribed drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in tablets or liquids in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. Adults may supplement an immediate-release medicine with an extended-release long-acting medication every week to lessen the requirement to take it frequently throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD can also be treated successfully with antidepressants like desipramine. This class of medications can be utilized together with stimulants or on their own to boost their effects. However, they can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, such as rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists like alprazolam and clonidine can also be used to treat adults with ADHD. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming affect and can improve focus, and reduce hyperactivity and impulse control in some adults. However, these medications could result in a drop in blood pressure when they are abruptly cut off or reduced in dosage.
adhd symptoms and treatment in adults is also useful for adults with ADHD. Individual talk therapy helps those with ADHD to overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment and resentment toward coworkers, supervisors, teachers and family members who might nitpick or criticize them. Additionally, marriage and family counseling can help couples suffering from ADHD be able to recognize each other's challenges and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD is designed to improve daily functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can also help people with ADHD overcome low self-esteem and feelings of failure that often accompanies this condition.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in changing the negative thoughts that cause problems in their lives. It also helps to discover new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term, goal-oriented kind of psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of disorders including anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in combination with other treatments.
CBT could include group therapy, which can be particularly helpful for adults with ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to meet others with similar challenges and to learn how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or via the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to the standard treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting measures like symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for people with ADHD and all have shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms with medium to large effect size. These improvements were associated with diverse approaches such as cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required in comparing the effectiveness of various treatments for adult ADHD. It is likely that different outcomes of the treatments depend on a variety of factors such as treatment characteristics, measures employed and the background of the patient. Few studies have examined the effectiveness 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 then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD have mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these issues, which may contribute to ADHD symptoms. Some psychotherapy approaches include the use of interpersonal therapy to improve a person's ability to build meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help manage self-destructive, impulsive and negative behavior that can create problems at work or school.
In certain situations psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medications for adults adhd treatment. Patients with comorbid disorders such as bipolar disorder and substance abuse should be evaluated with care to make sure they don't have symptoms that cannot be improved by the medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, need to be treated with more vigor.
In-depth outpatient programs could be suggested if the individual's ADHD is such that it affects their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs provide structured therapy that is more intense than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD enhance their ability to manage time management and impulse control, as well as organizing, and executive function. It helps them recognize and express emotions and utilizes activities and worksheets to make the learning interesting. Meditation training that is mindful enhances CBT and improves the ability of people to concentrate and regulate their emotions. It also improves a person's ability to handle stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness, and other difficult feelings that could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. These issues can also impact relationships and can lead to financial issues. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you increase self-esteem, address the root of your issue and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults with ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative beliefs and behavior. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that contribute to negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of possibilities.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from anxiety or depression. These psychiatric conditions can decrease or exacerbate the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbidity first and monitor the response to treatment before proceeding to treatment of the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your work and life, establish predictable routines to manage your money and time and create an optimistic image of yourself. It can also help you master relaxation techniques that can decrease your impulsivity and hyperactivity. In the same way yoga and other exercises can help you focus better by stabilizing your body in different poses.
Family and marriage counseling can help adults with ADHD to solve the problems they cause their spouses, kids and friends. They often complain of being erratic and unorganized. They often forget things or make impulsive choices. Classes and therapy in which spouses and other family members are educated on ADHD can help you establish better relationships. It can help you and your family members understand that the problem is caused by ADHD and not an inability to care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is highly frequent. It is often associated with co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression and abuse disorders. Treatment options include medication and psychosocial interventions. A variety of medications are available to adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and drawbacks of the drugs.
Adults who suffer from ADHD suffer from the same issues as children, however it isn't always easy to recognize them since childhood symptoms might not last throughout adulthood. adhd symptoms and treatment in adults with ADHD may not have any family background of the disorder or might not remember the symptoms. It is crucial to take an extensive medical history to determine whether the symptoms are caused by an illness, like thyroid issues or sleep apnea, and vision problems.
Adult medications for ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their rates of responsiveness vary from 70 to 80%. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate may also be administered through a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery throughout the daytime.
Nonstimulant drugs for adults with ADHD are primarily tricyclic antidepressants that target dopamine and norepinephrine. Desipramine, which is the most researched tricyclic, has been proven to be effective in adult ADHD patients. It is a low-dose medication which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant that has been proven to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transporter which increases its accessibility to the brain. The drug is known to boost mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity however it's not as effective in improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.