ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4% of the general population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and significant social, emotional and occupational impairments.
Both medication and psychotherapy are effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD have significant improvements in symptoms and functioning due to medication. It is important that people with ADHD find the combination of medication that works for them.
Stimulants, including methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the most commonly prescribed medications for adults with ADHD. These stimulants are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. Adults can augment an immediate-release medicine with an extended-release long-acting medication once a week to reduce the necessity to take it often throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD can also be treated successfully with antidepressants such as desipramine. This class of drugs may be utilized together with stimulants or in isolation to boost their effects. However, they may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects such as a rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam and clonidine are also used for the treatment of adults with ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They are calming and may improve focus and reduce the amount of hyperactivity and impulsivity in some adults. These medications can result in extremely low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is decreased.
adhd in adults untreated suffering from ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy helps people overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment against coworkers, supervisors, teachers, and family members that may criticize or nag them. In addition counseling for marriage and families can help couples with ADHD understand each other's problems and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD seeks to improve everyday functioning by educating people on strategies and skills. Psychotherapy can also help people who suffer from ADHD overcome low self-esteem and sense of failure that is often associated with this condition.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that create problems in their lives. It also helps to develop new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating various conditions, including anxiety and depression. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
CBT may include group therapy, which can be particularly helpful for adults with ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to meet others with similar challenges and to learn from others how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be provided in person or via the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to conventional therapy for adults with ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting indicators like 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 linked to a variety of modalities that include cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skills training, problem-solving training and mindfulness meditation.
It is important to compare the effectiveness of various treatment options for adults with ADHD with caution. It is likely that the different outcomes of the treatments depend on a variety of factors such as the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used and the background of the patient. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a method that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap when performing cognitive tasks to identify areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity. Then, instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD also have anxiety or mood disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help with these issues that may be contributing ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy methods that can help improve a person’s ability to manage conflicts and create lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to alter negative behaviors and assist in managing self-destructive and impulsive behaviors that can lead to problems at school or work.
In certain situations, psychotherapy can be used in combination with medication for adults with adhd treatment. Patients with comorbid disorders such as bipolar disorder, and addiction to drugs need to be evaluated carefully to make sure they don't suffer from symptoms that aren't ameliorated by the medications that are prescribed to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history or seizures, must be treated more aggressively.
If adhd treatment for adults medication is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and quality-of-life, intensive outpatient programs may be suggested. These programs offer more intensive and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as organizing, and executive function. It helps them recognize and express feelings, and it uses activities and worksheets to make the lessons interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and improves the ability of a person to concentrate and regulate emotions. It enhances the capacity of a person to tolerate stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness and other emotional issues which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD report difficulties functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting their work performance, these issues can interfere with relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you boost your self-esteem, solve underlying problems and establish healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults with ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative beliefs and behaviors. Particularly, it focuses on teaching you to utilize strategies for managing time and overcoming mental distortions that lead to negative moods and perceptions of a limited range of choices.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric conditions can cause or decrease the effectiveness of certain drugs used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe disorder comorbid to ADHD first and observe the effect of medication before proceeding to treatment of the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you learn ways to organize your life and work, create predictable routines, manage time and money and build confidence in yourself. It can help you learn techniques for relaxation that can reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Additionally, yoga and other exercise can help you focus better by ensuring your body is stable in different postures.
Marriage and family counseling can address the issues adults with ADHD often create for their spouses, children and other family members. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and often prone to making impulsive choices. adhd symptoms adults treatment can build stronger relationships by informing your spouses and family members about ADHD. Moreover, it can help you and your loved ones realize that these issues are linked to the patient's ADHD instead of the lack of compassion or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that is extremely frequent. It is often accompanied by other disorders that are comorbid, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include medication and psychosocial interventions. A variety of medications are available for adults suffering from ADHD, and some of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and the limitations of the medication.
Adults with ADHD might experience the same symptoms that children have, but it's difficult to determine because childhood symptoms might not last into adulthood. In addition, adults with ADHD might not have a family history of the disorder in their families or may not be aware of having symptoms. A thorough medical history is essential to help determine whether the symptoms are due to medical conditions such as a thyroid problem, sleep apnea, vision and hearing problems or lead poisoning.
Adults with ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. Stimulants are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD and their response rates are in the 70%-80 percentage range. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate can also be administered through a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants that work on dopamine and norepinephrine. Desipramine, the most studied tricyclic, has shown to be effective in adult ADHD patients. It is a low dose medicine and should be increased by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL is a second antidepressant that has been shown to be effective in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter and increasing its presence in the brain. The drug is known to boost mood in adults and decrease hyperactivity, but it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.