Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment of adhd in adults focuses on medication, therapy and support from family members. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
The stimulant medications are the most effective medications for adults with ADHD. They require monitoring regularly. This includes regular appointments with a physician and regular examinations of symptoms.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you and will determine the best dose and schedule to take it. It could take a while to find the right dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
The first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These medicines increase the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in your brain, which increase your ability to focus and manage impulses. These medications are available in short-, medium-and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants can last up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting drugs can last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause side effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medicines, but they still cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines such as atomoxetine (Strattera), are used to treat adults with ADHD in cases where stimulants don't perform or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medicines do not affect the levels of dopamine or norepinephrine however, they can increase the amount of norepinephrine and improve your concentration. These medications are in capsules and can be taken either twice or three times each day.
Certain adults suffering from ADHD may also suffer from other psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and depression. These are known as comorbid disorders and can affect the way you respond to treatment for ADHD. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is important to address any comorbidities. For instance, people who have a history of substance use disorder are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. It's best to wait until someone has quit using drugs before treating them with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that involves discussing and discussing issues that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist provides guidance on the basis of his or her education, experience, credentials and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy can be short-term, (a couple of weeks or months) or addressing more immediate issues, or more long-term. The therapist and patient decide on the length and frequency of treatment.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is a highly effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills and prioritizing. It can also teach techniques to manage emotions like anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, increase focus and lead to better work and academic performance.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely of co-existing conditions. This is particularly true for mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It is crucial that any co-existing condition be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing conditions may require different types of medications and dosages than those used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also be suffering from hypertension. Finding a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms but doesn't affect the patient's hypertension that is controlled requires knowledge of how different medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between various medications.
It's important to find an therapist with whom you have a good relationship, and who is experienced in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's also important to arrange your first few sessions when you're not distracted by your family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have many life challenges, including relationships and work issues. They may also feel anger, blame and frustration that have developed in their lives because of their symptoms. Psychosocial treatments can aid patients and their families develop new skills, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy that aids individuals to modify their thinking and behavior. It includes goal-setting, skills training and practice, and methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. This can be accomplished individually or in a group setting. A few studies have proven that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors, 2002).
Some people suffering from ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain issues in their lives. These issues could include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behaviors, or difficulty in dealing with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help develop strategies to help deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in long-term marriages or other partnerships.
Other forms of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy and supportive group therapy. adhd treatments adults can help families cope with the anxiety of having a child with ADHD, as well as develop skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It can aid parents to understand the disorder and develop parenting methods that promote positive outcomes for their children.
Adults with ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and also disclose any other medications, including over the drug products. Certain medications can interact with specific medications or cause adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is established, it is important that the patient is monitored to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of medication and not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to visit the patient for the initial clinical assessment within 30 days after starting treatment, and then every month thereafter. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) this allows for the gradual titration of an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This allows accurate registration of the patients' response and helps to avoid keeping a sensitive patient on insufficient doses.
Adults who do not respond well to stimulant medication or who have unwanted side effects that are difficult to tolerate could benefit from non-stimulant medications. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine, or other related alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have comorbid disorders like mood disorder or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. Additionally, they may suffer from chronic sleep disorders or medical issues such as hearing and vision problems. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD it is crucial to identify for these conditions and then evaluate the severity of them. These conditions can have a significant effect on functional impairments for adults.
Marital therapy can also be beneficial in managing ADHD. Spouses often report that they feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses who have ADHD and may become resentful and angry as a result. Making the patient aware of the signs of their condition and helping them realize that these aren't impulsive actions or lack of love can help reduce marital conflict and resentment. Couples who undergo this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate an element of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy assists patients in learning to improve their abilities to manage their time, focus and control the impulsive behavior. It teaches patients to manage their home, work and social interactions more effectively. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their condition affects different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are often seen among people with ADHD. They could be perceived by others as lazy or less intelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mimicked by a variety of mental disorders. For instance anxiety disorders are found at a high rate in adult ADHD patients and depression is observed in greater numbers among people suffering from the disorder. If necessary the presence of other psychiatric disorders should be evaluated to determine if ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated using the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been proven that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is employed results are more favorable than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to monitor and evaluate functional improvements, such as improvement in school performance, the workplace, and interpersonal relations.