Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated by therapy, medication, and family support. Individuals can also take part in clinical trials that test new methods of treating ADHD.
The stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for adults with ADHD. They must be monitored regularly. This includes regular clinical appointments and regular reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medicines
There are a variety of medications that can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they alter the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will select the best medication for you and determine the best dose and schedule to take it. It could take some time to find the right medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults with ADHD is stimulants. These medicines increase the amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and manage impulses. These medicines are available in short-, medium-and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants can last for 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours. Long-acting drugs can last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have fewer side effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medications, but they still can cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't perform or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medications don't alter your norepinephrine or dopamine levels, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and increase your ability to concentrate. These medications are available in capsules and can be taken twice or once each day.
Some people with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are known as comorbidities, and they can affect your response to ADHD treatment. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is essential to address any comorbidities. For instance, those who have an history of using substances disorder may be more likely to abuse psychostimulants. For this reason, it's often advisable to wait until the person has removed themselves from using substances before evaluating treatment with stimulants to treat ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves talking and discussing topics that cause anxiety or are disturbing for a person. The therapist offers guidance on the basis of his or her education, experience, credentials, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with immediate issues or more long-term (months or years) in which a patient is working on more complicated and longstanding issues. The therapist and patient decide on the length and frequency of therapy.
Psychotherapy and medication are 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 strategies to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, increase concentration and improve work and academic performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely of co-existing illnesses. treating adult adhd is particularly applicable to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It is important that any co-existing disorders be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders could require different types and dosages of medication than that used to treat ADHD.
A person suffering from ADHD may also be suffering from hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension, it is important to know how different medications affect individuals over time as well as the interactions between the medications.
It's important to find the right professional with whom you share a an excellent relationship and who has experience treating adults with ADHD. It is also crucial to schedule your initial sessions in a time when you won't be distracted by your family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, including issues in their relationships and at work. A person with ADHD may also experience frustration, anger and blame that have developed over time. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven to help them and their families learn new attitudes, skills and ways of connecting.
Psychotherapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, training and practice of skills, as well as methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. This can be done individually or in a group setting. Metacognitive therapy has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults with ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson, et al. 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD also need counseling to address specific challenges. These could include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behaviors, or difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help you develop the techniques to deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving skills. It can also improve relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Other forms of psychotherapy for ADHD are family therapy and supportive group therapy. These can help families cope with the stress of having a child suffering from ADHD and help improve communication and reduce conflicts. It can help parents understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive results in their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD should discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and inform them of any other medications, including over-the prescription drugs. Some medications can cause side effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis, it is essential to monitor the patient's condition to ensure that he/she receives the benefits of the medication and doesn't suffer from side effects. It is recommended that patients be referred for initial clinical monitoring within 30 days of starting treatment and then every month afterward. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this allows for complete titration to an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This permits accurate recording of the patient's response. It also assists in avoiding the patient from being kept on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses to excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who are not responding well to stimulant medications or who have side effects that are intolerable could benefit from non-stimulant medications. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine, or other related alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults with ADHD frequently suffer from co-occurring disorders like mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. They might also be suffering from medical issues like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. As part of the initial evaluation for ADHD, it is important to screen for these conditions and then evaluate the severity of them. These conditions could have a significant impact on functional impairments in adults.
Marital therapy can be helpful in managing ADHD. Many spouses report that they feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities to care for their spouses with ADHD and can become resentful and angry due to this. Reducing resentment can be achieved by enhancing the understanding of his/her illness, and helping them to understand that the symptoms are not the result of a lack in willfulness or love. Couples who go through this kind of therapy tend to have better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is typically advised. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their abilities to manage their time and focus, as well as control impulsive behavior. It helps patients learn to manage their work, social, and home situations more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients to understand how their condition impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in people suffering from ADHD. They may be viewed by others as being lazy or inexperienced.
Many psychiatric disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are found at a higher rate in adults ADHD patients and depression is observed at increased levels in adults with the disorder. If necessary, the presence of other mental disorders should be analyzed to determine whether ADHD symptoms are caused by them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been shown that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is utilized the results are superior than treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies will try to monitor and evaluate improvements in functional performance, for example, better functioning at school or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.