Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adults with adhd focuses on medication, therapy and family support. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant drugs. They must be monitored regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor as well as frequent reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medicines
There are a variety of medications that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the appropriate medication for you, and determine the best dosage and timetable. It could take a while to find the right dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are often the first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD. These medications increase the amount of dopamine that is present in your brain and norepinephrine, which aids in controlling your impulses and keep your focus. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last for 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medicines last for 8-10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16. Long-acting stimulants are less likely cause adverse effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they can cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause unpleasant side negative effects. These medications don't alter your dopamine or norepinephrine however they do increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain and improve your ability to concentrate. These capsules are taken once or two times a day.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities, and they can influence how you respond to ADHD treatment. It's important to treat any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. Patients with a history of addiction to drugs are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. For this reason, it is generally recommended to wait until the person has stopped using substances before considering treatment with stimulants for ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves talking and discussing topics that cause distress or anxiety for a person. The therapist offers guidance on the basis of his or her training, experience, credentials, and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues, or long-term (months or years) in which a person is working to address more complex and long-standing issues. The duration and frequency of the treatment are determined by the therapist and patient together.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is a highly effective treatment for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies to manage emotions such as anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms and increase focus, which leads to more effective and efficient academic and work performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-existing conditions, particularly mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is essential that any co-existing conditions be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing disorders might require different kinds of medications and dosages compared to those used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a person with ADHD may also have hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the hypertension of the patient, it is important to know how different medications affect people over time and the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose an therapy provider with whom you have a good relations, and who is experienced in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you aren't distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD face many challenges in their lives, including issues at work and in relationships. The person who has ADHD might also experience anger, frustration and blame that have developed over time. Psychosocial therapies can help patients and their families develop new abilities, attitudes, and ways of relating.
Psychotherapy can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy that aids individuals to modify their thinking and behavior. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, as well as strategies for teaching that help improve organization and self-esteem. It can be done in a private or in a group. Some studies have shown that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and colleagues 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD also require counseling to address specific challenges. These difficulties could include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, or difficulty in dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help you develop the skills to help deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, particularly in marriages or other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and support groups therapy are other forms of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and learn skills to reduce conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can also help parents recognize the symptoms and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
Adults with ADHD should discuss their medication regularly with their doctors and inform them of any other medications, including over the counter drugs. adult add treatments can interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is made it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to visit patients for initial clinical monitoring within 30days of starting treatment and every month following that. This permits a thorough titration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate to a well-tolerated, effective dose. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's response. It also assists in avoiding keeping sensitive patients on insufficient doses (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses to excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or have unwanted side effects that are difficult to tolerate could benefit from non-stimulant medications. This usually involves the use atomoxetine or other methylphenidate-related alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently suffer from co-occurring disorders like mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. They may also suffer from medical problems like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. As adhd untreated in adults of the initial assessment for ADHD, it is important to screen for these conditions and then evaluate their severity. These conditions can have a significant effect on functional impairments in adults.
ADHD can also be treated through marital therapy. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking duties of their spouses with ADHD, and can become angry or resentful in response. Reduced resentment can be achieved by increasing the patient's understanding of his/her illness, and helping them to understand that the symptoms aren't caused by an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who go through this type of therapy tend to be more functional as a family.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually recommended. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their abilities to manage their time, focus and control the impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their social, work and home life more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition affects different areas of their lives and relationships. This can help decrease the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that are often experienced by those with ADHD who are viewed as inept or unintelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by various mental disorders. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of other psychiatric problems should be assessed according to the need, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are related to them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated using the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been demonstrated that a combination of psychotherapy and medication produces superior results over either treatment by itself. Future controlled studies must attempt to measure and track the effects of functional improvements, such as better performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships.