Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated with medication, therapy and support from family members. Patients can also take part in clinical trials that test new methods of treating ADHD.
The stimulant medications are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. They need to be monitored regularly. This includes regular appointments with a physician and frequent reviews of symptoms.
Medications
Many medications can be used to treat symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the best medication for you and will decide the most effective dose and time to take it. It could take some time to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
adhd untreated in adults are often the first prescription medication doctors recommend for adults with ADHD. They increase the amount of dopamine 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 around 6 hours, intermediate-acting medicines last 8-10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause negative effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines, but they still cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as atomoxetine (Strattera) can be used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medications don't affect your norepinephrine or dopamine however they do increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine, which improves your ability to concentrate. The capsules are taken one or twice daily.
Many people with ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, like depression and anxiety. These conditions are known as comorbidities and can affect how you respond to ADHD treatment. It's important to treat any comorbidities prior to starting treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have an addiction history to drugs or disorder are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It's best to wait until someone has stopped using drugs before taking them on with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process that involves discussing and discussing issues that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist offers guidance in accordance with their education, experience, credentials, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) or addressing more immediate issues, or long-term. The therapist and the patient determine the duration and frequency of therapy.
The use of psychotherapy and medications together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their abilities to organize their lives, manage their time and prioritizing; it can also teach techniques for managing emotions like anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and improve focus, leading to more effective and efficient academic and work performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to have co-existing issues, especially mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Before beginning treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing condition. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different types and dosages of medication than the ones used to treat ADHD.
For example, a person with ADHD may also have hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but does not alter the patient's hypertension which is being controlled requires knowledge of how various medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose an professional with whom you share a an excellent relationship and who is experienced in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It is crucial to schedule your initial sessions at times when you aren't distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have many issues in their lives, including relationships and work problems. A person with ADHD may also experience anger, frustration and guilt that has built up over time. Psychosocial treatments can help patients and their families to develop new skills, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, as well as teaching strategies for improving self-esteem and organization. It can be conducted in individual or group sessions. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also require counseling to address specific issues. This could include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behavior, or difficulties managing failures and disappointments. Counseling can help teach how to handle these situations, improve communication and increase problem-solving capabilities. It can also improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in marriages or other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are other forms of psychotherapy that could be used to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can also help parents recognize the symptoms and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
It is crucial for adults with ADHD to discuss their medication with their health care professionals regularly, and to reveal all other medications they are taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications can trigger adverse reactions or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is made it is essential that the patient be monitored to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of medication and not experiencing adverse effects. It is recommended to see patients for initial clinical assessment within 30 days after starting treatment and then every month thereafter. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this allows for a complete titration to an effective and well-tolerated dosage. This permits accurate recording of the patient's response. It also helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients on insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses onto unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who are not responding well to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of non-stimulant drugs might be suggested. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine or other methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually affected by comorbid disorders such as depression or substance abuse. They might also be suffering from medical conditions like hearing or vision problems or chronic sleep disorders. It is important to screen and evaluate such conditions in the initial assessment for ADHD since these can have significant impact on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be managed through marital therapy. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can become angry or resentful in response. The way to reduce resentment is by enhancing the patient's understanding of his/her condition, and assisting them understand that the symptoms are not caused by a lack in love or willfulness. Couples who go through this kind of therapy tend to have better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For those who suffer from ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy assists patients in learning to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus, as well as control the impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their work, home, and social situations in more productive ways. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their condition impacts different areas of their life and relationships. This can help reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are often felt by adults with ADHD. They may be perceived by others as being lazy or inexperienced.
ADHD symptoms can be mimicked by many psychiatric disorders. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be evaluated in order to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that a combination of psychotherapy and medication produces better results than either therapy by itself. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to track and measure the effects of functional improvements, such as better functioning at school, workplace, and interpersonal relationships.