ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurological disorder that affects around 4,4 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of co-morbidity (depression, anxiety, addiction to drugs) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medications are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The most frequently prescribed drugs are stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Medications
Many people with ADHD notice significant improvements in their symptoms as well as functioning in response to medications. It is important that people suffering from ADHD discover the right combination of medications that is effective for them.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamines. These stimulants are available as liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. adhd symptoms in adults treatment can augment an immediate-release medicine with an extended-release long-acting medicine at least every week to decrease the requirement to take it regularly throughout the day.
Antidepressants like desipramine have also been proven to be effective in the treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs can be used together with stimulants or on their own to boost their effects. However, they could increase the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects like rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists like alprazolam as well as clonidine are utilized to treat adults with ADHD. These drugs, initially developed to treat high blood pressure, have the ability to calm and improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulsivity in some adults. These medications can lead to extremely low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is decreased.
Adults with ADHD can also benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy can help them overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment toward coworkers, supervisors, teachers, and family members that may criticize or nag them. Marriage and family counseling is also a great way to help couples with ADHD to better understand each other and improve their communication.
Behavioral Therapy
The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to teach strategies and skills that help improve performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help people with ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the feeling of inadequacy they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change their negative thoughts and feelings that cause difficulties in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for many conditions including anxiety and depression. It can be used in conjunction with other therapies or on its own.
CBT can include group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for those suffering from ADHD because it allows them to connect with others who have similar struggles and learn about how they manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be offered in person or over the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to standard therapy for adults with ADHD. Both treatments improved self-report measures such as symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
Numerous studies have evaluated CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD and have all shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms with medium to large effect size. These improvements were associated with a variety modalities including interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy and social skills training. problem-solving training, and mindfulness mediation.
It is essential to assess the efficacy between different treatments for adult ADHD with caution. It is likely that differences in outcomes results result from a variety of factors, such as treatment features and the methods employed. There are few studies that have investigated the effectiveness neurofeedback. This method involves wearing a hat with electrodes while performing cognitive tasks to identify brain areas where there is excessive or inadequate activity. The person is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD have mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can address these problems that may be contributing ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy methods include interpersonal therapy to enhance the ability of a person to form 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 can be utilized as an adjunct to the medication used for adhd treatment for adults. People with co-occurring disorders like depression, substance abuse and bipolar disorder should be evaluated to ensure that their symptoms aren't made worse by medications used to treat ADHD. People with certain medical issues like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and an history of seizures must be treated more aggressively as they are more at risk for complications from the medication.
When ADHD is serious enough to affect daily functioning and quality-of-life, intensive outpatient programs may be recommended. These programs offer an organized treatment that is more intensive than the traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults suffering from ADHD improve their abilities to manage their time and impulse control, planning, and executive function. It helps them understand and express their emotions and uses worksheets and activities to make the lessons more interesting. Mindfulness meditation training improves CBT and enhances the ability of a person to concentrate and regulate their emotions. It improves the ability of a person's ability to handle the effects of stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness and other difficult emotions that could be causing their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and could result in financial issues. Therapy that addresses these issues will help you improve your self-esteem and solve the underlying issues. It will also help you develop healthy coping methods.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a successful treatment for adults with ADHD, as it teaches them how to change their negative attitudes and behaviours. Particularly, untreated adhd in adults depression focuses on teaching you to utilize strategies to manage your time and eliminate thinking distortions that contribute to negative moods and the perception of limited choices.
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric conditions can cause or diminish the effectiveness of some treatments for ADHD. It is recommended to first treat the most severe comorbidity and then observe its reaction to the medication prior treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you manage your life and work by establishing predictable routines that help you manage your money and time, and develop an optimistic image of yourself. It can also help you learn relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the same way yoga and other exercises can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing the body in various poses.
Marriage and family counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to resolve the issues they cause their spouses, kids and others. They frequently complain of being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. Therapy and classes in which spouses and other family members are educated about ADHD can help you establish more harmonious relationships. It can help you and your family members understand that the issues are caused by ADHD and not an inability to care or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder which is highly common. It is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication treatments are available as treatments. A variety of medications are available for adults with ADHD and some of these have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and weaknesses 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 into adulthood. In addition, adults with ADHD may not have a family history of the disorder in their families or they may not even remember having symptoms. It is crucial to take an extensive medical history to determine if the symptoms are caused by an illness, such as thyroid problems or sleep apnea, and vision problems.
Treatments for adults suffering from ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their response rates range from 70 to 80%. The most popular stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate is also accessible in a transdermal system, which permits continuous supply of medication throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is one of the most studied tricyclic and has been shown to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medicine and should be increased by 50 mg every seven days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL another antidepressant, has been proven to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which works by blocking norepinephrine reuptake in the presynaptic cellular transporter which increases its accessibility to the brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults, but it is not as effective as stimulants in improving concentration or cognitive function.