Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adhd in adults is based on therapy, medication and family support. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for adults with ADHD. They need to be monitored regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor as well as frequent reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medications
Many medications can be used to alleviate symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are referred to as psychostimulants. They function by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you, and determine the best dosage and timetable. It may take a while to find the right medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
Stimulants are usually the first prescription medication doctors recommend to adults suffering from ADHD. These medications increase the amount of dopamine in your brain and norepinephrine, which helps you to control your thoughts and focus. They come in short-, intermediate- and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants can last up to up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting drugs last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely cause adverse reactions than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they may cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause undesirable adverse side consequences. These medicines don't affect the levels of norepinephrine or dopamine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and improve your ability to focus. These medications are available in capsules and are taken once or twice every day.
Some adults with ADHD also have other psychiatric disorders, like depression and anxiety. These conditions are known as comorbidities and can affect how you respond to ADHD treatment. Before starting treatment for ADHD, it's important to address any comorbidities. Patients with a history of addiction to drugs are more likely to use psychostimulants. It's best to wait until someone has quit using drugs before treating them with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that involves discussing and discussing issues that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist gives advice in accordance with their education, experience, credentials, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy could be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with more immediate challenges or longer-term (months or years) in which a person is working on more complicated and longstanding issues. The duration and frequency of therapy is determined by the therapist and patient together.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is an extremely effective method to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach methods to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms, increase focus and lead to better academic and work performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to have co-existing conditions, particularly mood disorders like anxiety and depression. It is crucial that any co-existing disorders be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different types and dosages of medication than the ones used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a person who suffers from ADHD may also have hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but doesn't affect the patient's hypertension that is 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 therapy provider with whom you have a good relations, and who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at times when you won't be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD typically face a variety of issues in their lives, including relationships and work problems. A person with ADHD may be prone to anger, frustration and blame that have developed over time. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven to aid them and their families develop new behaviors, skills, and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people alter their habits and thoughts. It includes goal-setting, skill training and practice, and teaching strategies to improve self-esteem and organization. It can be conducted in group or individual sessions. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson, et al., 2002).
Some people with ADHD may also require counseling to help them overcome certain life issues. These difficulties could include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behavior, and difficulties in dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can teach techniques to manage these situations and improve communication and problem-solving skills. It can also help improve relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and supportive group therapy are also types of psychotherapy that can be used to treat ADHD. These therapies can help families cope and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child suffering from ADHD. It can help parents to understand the disorder, and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive outcomes in their children.
It is essential for people with ADHD to discuss their medication with their healthcare providers regularly, and to reveal all other medications they are taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is established, it is essential that the patient be monitored to ensure he/she is getting 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 every month after that. treatment for add in adults will allow for an accurate adjustment of psychostimulants like amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated and effective dose. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's response and helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses onto unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medication or have adverse effects that are unpalatable might benefit from non-stimulant drugs. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine or other alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults with ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders such as depression or substance abuse. In addition, they may experience persistent sleep disturbances or medical issues like vision and hearing disorders. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD it is essential to detect for these conditions and then evaluate the severity of them. These conditions can have a significant effect on functional impairments in adults.
Marital therapy is also useful in the management of ADHD. spouses feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses who suffer from ADHD, and can become resentful or angry as a consequence. Increasing the patient's awareness of the signs of their condition and helping to understand that these aren't impulsive acts or a lack of affection can help to reduce marital tensions and resentment. Couples who go through this type of therapy usually experience improved family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually advised. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their organizational skills, focus and control impulsive behavior. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work, and home situations more effectively. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their condition affects different aspects of their lives and relationships. This helps reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in people with ADHD. They may be viewed by others as being lazy or less intelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by many psychiatric disorders. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of other mental health problems should be evaluated in order to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated with the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been shown that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is employed results are more favorable than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to measure and track the effects of functional improvements, such as better performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships.