ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurological disorder that affects 44 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and alcohol abuse) and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medications are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medications
Many adults with ADHD experience significant improvements in their symptoms and performance due to medications. Because of the different ways that people respond to medication, it is important for individuals with ADHD to discover a combination that is effective.
Adults suffering from ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as amphetamines or methylphenidate. They are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. Some adults can supplement their immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medicine used once per day to reduce the requirement for frequent doses throughout the day.
Antidepressants such as desipramine have also been proven to be effective in treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs may be utilized in conjunction with stimulants, or on their own to boost their effects. However, they can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects like an increased heart rate, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated using alprazolam or clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 antagonists of the adrenergic system. These drugs, initially developed to treat high blood pressure, can have the ability to calm and increase focus and reduce the amount of impulsivity and hyperactivity in certain adults. However, these medications can result in a drop in blood pressure when they are suddenly removed or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help them cope with feelings of shame and embarrassment about their ADHD and anger towards supervisors, coworkers teachers, family members and others who might be a source of criticism or nagging them. Family and marriage counseling is a great method to help couples with ADHD improve their understanding of each other and improve their communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD aims to improve daily functioning by educating people on strategies and skills. Psychotherapy can also assist people with ADHD to overcome the low self-esteem and feeling of failure that often accompanies this condition.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that create problems in their lives. It also helps to learn new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for many illnesses, including depression and anxiety. It can be used by itself or in combination with other treatments.
CBT may also include group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD as it allows them to meet others who have similar struggles and learn how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be provided in person or over the phone. One study compared the effects of CBT in comparison to conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments produced improvement in self-report assessments of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life.
CBT has been compared with other psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms with effects ranging from medium to large. These improvements were attributed to a variety of modalities, including interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, problem-solving exercises and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is warranted in comparing the efficacy of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that differences in the outcomes are due to a range of factors, including treatment characteristics and the measures employed. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a method that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to determine areas in the brain where there is too much or little activity - and then instructing the person to manage these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD have mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can address these problems that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy methods include the use of interpersonal therapy to improve the capacity of individuals to establish meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help manage self-destructive, impulsive and negative behavior that can create problems at school or work.
In some cases psychotherapy may be used as an alternative to the medication used for ADHD treatment for adults. adult adhd diagnostic assessment and treatment with co-occurring disorders like substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder should be evaluated to ensure that their symptoms aren't aggravated by medications used to treat ADHD. Patients with certain medical conditions, including thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and an history of seizures need to be treated more aggressively as they are more at risk of complications from medications.
Outpatient intensive programs may be suggested if the individual's ADHD is so severe that it interferes with their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs provide more thorough and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of cognitive therapy, aids people with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time planning, impulse control and executive functioning. It helps them recognize and express their emotions and uses activities and worksheets to make the learning interesting. Mindfulness meditation training enhances CBT and improves a person's ability to focus and manage their emotions. It increases the capacity of a person to manage the effects of stress and arousal. It can help them deal with anger, sadness and other emotions which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to impacting work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and may result in financial issues. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you improve your self-esteem, resolve the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be a beneficial treatment for adults with ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative beliefs and behaviors. Particularly, it concentrates on teaching you to utilize strategies for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that contribute to negative moods and a perception of a limited selection.
Many adults with ADHD also have comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric illnesses may aggravate or decrease the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbidity first and monitor the effect of medication prior to attempting treatment for the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your work and life and establish routines that are predictable, manage your money and time, and develop an optimistic image of yourself. It can help you learn relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other exercises can also help you focus by stabilizing your body in different poses.
Family and marriage counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to solve the problems they cause their spouses, kids and friends. They frequently complain that they are insecure, unorganized, and prone to making impulsive decisions. You can strengthen relationships by educating your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can help you and your family members understand that the issues are due to ADHD instead of the lack of care or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly prevalent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity. This includes anxiety, depression and addiction disorders. The use of medication and psychosocial interventions is available as treatments. A variety of medications are available to adults suffering from ADHD, and some of them have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and the limitations of the medications.
Adults with ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, but it can be difficult to diagnose them because childhood symptoms might not last into adulthood. Adults with ADHD might not have a family history of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. It is crucial to take a thorough medical history in order to determine if the symptoms are caused by a medical condition, such as thyroid problems such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision issues.
Adults with ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. Stimulants have the highest reaction rates for adults with ADHD. Their responsiveness rates range from 70 to 80percent. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate is also accessible in a transdermal system which permits continuous drug delivery throughout the day.
Nonstimulant drugs for adults with ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants which work on dopamine and norepinephrine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients with ADHD. It is a medication with a low dose that is recommended to be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is noticed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been proven to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that works by blocking the reuptake process of norepinephrine by the presynaptic receptor, thereby increasing its use in the brain. The drug is known to improve mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, but it's not as effective in improving cognitive function or concentration as stimulants.