ADHD In Adults Treatment: 10 Things I'd Love To Have Known Earlier
ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a prevalent condition of the nervous system that affects 44% of the population. It is accompanied with high rates of comorbidity, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The most frequently prescribed drugs are stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD experience significant improvements in symptoms and functioning as a result of medication. It is important that people who suffer from ADHD find the combination of medications that works for them.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid form, and can be taken as frequently as every three to four hours. Adults can augment an immediate-release medicine with an extended release, long-acting medicine once a week to reduce the necessity to take it frequently throughout the day.
Antidepressants such as desipramine have also been proven to be effective in treatment of adults with ADHD. This class of medications can be used together with stimulants or alone to enhance their effects. They may also increase the risk of serious side effects, including rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults with ADHD can also be treated using alprazolam or clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can help improve focus and reduce the amount of hyperactivity and impulsivity in certain adults. These medications can lead to extremely low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is reduced.
Psychotherapy is also useful for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy helps those with ADHD to overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment toward coworkers, supervisors, teachers, and family members that might criticize or nag them. In addition counseling for families and marriages can help couples with ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve 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 aid those with ADHD overcome their low self-esteem and feelings of failure that often accompanies this condition.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also referred to as cognitive behavior 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 act. This short-term and goal-oriented therapy has been proven effective in treating a variety of illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. It can be utilized in conjunction with other therapies or on its own.
CBT could involve group therapy, which is especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD because it gives the opportunity to interact with other people with similar challenges and to discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be provided in person or via the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to the standard treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. doctors that treat adhd in adults helped improve self-reporting measures such as symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD, and all show significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect size. These improvements were attributed to diverse modalities like interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy, social skills training, problem solving training, as well as mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required in comparing the efficacy of different treatments for adults with ADHD. It is likely that different outcomes of the treatments reflect a number of variables such as treatment characteristics, measures employed as well as the backgrounds of the patients. A few studies have examined the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a technique that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to determine areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity, and instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD also suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help address these issues, which may contribute to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy strategies include interpersonal therapy to improve 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 behaviors that could create problems at work or school.
In some instances psychotherapy can be utilized as an adjunct to medication for adult adhd treatment for adults. People who have comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to ensure they do not have symptoms that cannot be improved by the medication that are prescribed to treat ADHD. People who suffer from certain medical issues such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and seizures in the past, must be treated with more vigor because they are at a higher risk for complications from the medications.
When ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be suggested. These programs offer structured therapy that is more intense than traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD improve their ability to manage time, impulse control, executive function, and planning. It helps them understand and express their feelings. It utilizes worksheets and activities to make the learning more interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and enhances the capacity of a person's ability to concentrate and manage emotions. It also increases a person's capacity to manage the effects of stress and arousal. It can help them cope with anger, sadness, and other difficult feelings that may be contributing towards their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and could result in financial issues. Therapy that addresses these issues will help you build confidence in yourself and solve the underlying issues. It can also assist you in developing healthy coping methods.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a successful treatment for adults with ADHD and helps them change their negative thoughts and behavior. In particular, it is focused on teaching you how to utilize strategies for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that contribute to negative moods and perceptions of a limited range of choices.
Many adults with ADHD suffer from anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can exacerbate or diminish the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. It is recommended to treat the most severe comorbid condition and then monitor its reaction to the medication prior treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your work and life by establishing predictable routines to control your time and money and build confidence in yourself. It can also help you master relaxation techniques that could decrease your impulsivity and hyperactivity. Similarly, yoga and other exercise can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing your body in various poses.
Counseling for families and marriage can address the issues adults suffering from ADHD often cause their spouses, children and others. They often complain about being unstable, unorganized, forgetful and susceptible to making decisions based on impulsivity. You can strengthen relationships by educating your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can aid you and your family members realize that the issues are due to ADHD and not an inability to care or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly frequent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse 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 these have been evaluated in clinical trials. best treatment for adhd in adults have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the various medications.
Adults suffering from ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, but it isn't always easy to recognize them since childhood symptoms might not last until adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD may not have any family history of the disorder or might not remember the symptoms. It is essential to take a thorough medical history in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to an illness such as thyroid problems, sleep apnea or hearing and vision problems.
Adult medications for ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and nonstimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for adults suffering from ADHD. Their responsiveness rates range from 70 to 80%. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate can also be found as a transdermal solution, which allows for a continuous supply of medication throughout the day.
Nonstimulant drugs for adults with ADHD are mostly 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 medication with a low dose that should be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant which has been proven to be effective in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which works by blocking norepinephrine reuptake in the presynaptic cellular transporter, increasing its availability in brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults, but it is not as effective as stimulants when it comes to improving concentration or cognitive function.