Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adhd in adults focuses on medication, therapy and support from family members. Patients can also take part in clinical trials that test new approaches to treating ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant medications. But they need to be closely monitored. This includes regular clinical appointments and regular reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
There are a variety of medications that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are referred to as psychostimulants, and they work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will select the right medication for you and will determine the most effective dosage and schedule. It could take a while to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that control your symptoms.
add treatments for adults are usually the first prescription medication doctors recommend for adults with ADHD. They increase the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in your brain, which improve your ability to focus and control impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last about 6 hours, intermediate-acting medicines last between 8 and 10 hours, while long-acting medicines last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have fewer side effects than shorterand intermediate-acting medicines, but they still cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine, (Strattera), are used to treat adult ADHD in cases where stimulants don't work or cause unwanted side effects. These medications don't alter your norepinephrine or dopamine levels, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain, and improve your ability to focus. The capsules are taken one or twice daily.
Some people with ADHD suffer from co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and can affect how you react to treatment for ADHD. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is important to address any comorbidities. People with a history substance abuse disorder are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. Because of this, it's often advisable to wait until the person has stopped using substances before considering treatment with stimulants for ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process that involves talking and discussing topics that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist listens and offers guidance based on his or her training, education, experience, professional credentials and therapeutic philosophies. Psychotherapy could be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with issues that are more immediate or more long-term (months or years) where a person is working to address more complicated and longstanding issues. The therapist and patient determine the length and frequency of treatment.
Psychotherapy and medication together are 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 techniques to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and improve concentration, which results in more effective and efficient work and academic performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to have co-existing issues, especially mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Before starting treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing condition. The treatment of co-existing conditions could require different types of medications and dosages compared to the ones used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a person with ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. To select a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without destabilizing the patient's hypertension it is essential to know how different medications affect people in the course of time, as well as the interactions between medications.
It's important to find a professional with whom you share a good relations, and who is experienced in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It is also crucial to schedule your first few sessions when you're not distracted by family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, such as difficulties at work and with relationships. They may also experience frustration, blame and anger that have developed in their lives due to their symptoms. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven to help their families and patients learn new attitudes, skills and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that assists people in changing their behavior and thinking. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, and methods of teaching to improve organization and self-esteem. This can be accomplished individually or in a group setting. Metacognitive therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their performance (Stevenson and colleagues. 2002).
Some people with ADHD may also require counseling to help them overcome particular life challenges. These may include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulties dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can teach the strategies to manage 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 support groups therapy are also types of psychotherapy that could be used to treat ADHD. These therapies can help families cope and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It also helps parents understand the disorder and develop parenting styles that promote positive outcomes for their children.
It is important for adults with ADHD to discuss their medication with their health care professionals regularly, and to disclose any other medications they're taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Some medications can interact with specific medications or cause adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is made, it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and not experiencing side effects. It is recommended that a patient be examined for a first clinical examination within 30 days of beginning treatment and monthly thereafter. This permits the proper titration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate to a well-tolerated, effective dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patient's reaction and helps to avoid keeping a the patient with a sensitive response on doses that are not sufficient.
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or suffer from side effects that are intolerable could benefit from non-stimulant medications. Typically adhd in adults treatment involves the use of atomoxetine, or other related methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD are frequently affected by comorbid conditions, like depression or drug abuse. They may also have medical problems like hearing and vision problems or chronic sleep disorders. As adhd in adults treatment of the initial evaluation for ADHD, it is important to identify these conditions and assess the severity of them. These conditions can have a significant effect on functional impairments in adults.
Marital therapy can be helpful in managing ADHD. Many spouses report that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses who have ADHD and can become resentful and angry in the process. Increasing the patient's awareness of the signs of their condition and helping them understand that these are not willful acts or a lack of love can help to reduce marital conflict and resentment. Couples who undergo this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include an element of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can help patients improve their organization skills, focus, and control impulsive behaviors. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work, and home situations more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition affects different areas of their life and relationships. This can help alleviate the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that is commonly seen in adults with ADHD, who may be considered inept or unintelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders may be akin to ADHD symptoms. For example, anxiety disorders occur at a high rate in adult ADHD patients and depression is seen at increased levels in those suffering from the disorder. If necessary, the presence of other mental disorders should be evaluated to determine whether ADHD symptoms are a result of them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated using the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been proven that the combination of psychotherapy and medication yields better results than either therapy by itself. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to measure and track the improvement in functional aspects such as improved performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships.