ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4% of the general population. It is accompanied by high rates of co-morbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and substance abuse) and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Medicines
Many adults suffering from ADHD have significant improvements in symptoms and functioning due to medication. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD discover the right combination of medications that works for them.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. These stimulants are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. adhd in adults symptoms and treatment can be taken every three to four hour. Adults can supplement their immediate-release medicine with an extended-release long-acting medication once a week to reduce the necessity to take it frequently throughout the day.
adhd in adults untreated suffering from ADHD are also successfully treated with antidepressants, like desipramine. This class of medications can be used by itself or in combination with stimulants to increase their effects. They may also increase the risk of serious adverse consequences, like rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults with ADHD can also be treated with alprazolam or clonidine. They are both Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can help improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in some adults. These medications can result in extremely low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced.
Adults suffering from ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy can help them cope with feelings of shame and embarrassment over their ADHD as well as anger towards supervisors, coworkers, teachers and family members who might nag or criticize them. In addition, marriage and family counseling can help couples suffering from ADHD be able to recognize each other's challenges and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adult ADHD is to teach skills and strategies that improve performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help those with ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the sense of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in changing the negative thoughts that cause difficulties in their lives and to discover new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term, goal-oriented kind of psychotherapy has proven to be effective for a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression. It can be utilized in conjunction with other treatments or by itself.
CBT can include group therapy. This is especially beneficial for those suffering from ADHD as it allows them to meet others who have similar struggles and learn about how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be provided in person or via the phone. One study examined the effects of CBT in comparison to conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments led to improvement in self-report assessments of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life.
CBT has been compared to other psychosocial treatments in adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms and effects, with sizes that range from moderate to large. These improvements were linked to a variety modalities including interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy, social skills training, problem-solving training, and mindfulness meditation.
It is essential to assess the efficacy between different treatments for adult ADHD with caution. It is likely that differences in the results of treatment are due to a range of factors, including treatment characteristics and the measures employed. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This method involves wearing an electrode-lined hat while performing cognitive tasks in order to determine brain regions where there is excessive or insufficient activity. The individual is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD also have comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help with these issues that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy methods include interpersonal therapy to improve the ability of a person to form meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help manage self-destructive, impulsive, and negative behaviors that could create problems at work or school.
In some instances psychotherapy can be utilized as an adjunct to medication for adult adhd treatment for adults. People with comorbid disorders such as addiction to substances, depression and bipolar disorder should be assessed to ensure that their symptoms aren't aggravated by the medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history or seizures, need to be treated with more vigor.
Intensive outpatient programs might be suggested if the individual's ADHD is such that it interferes with their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs provide structured therapy that is more intense than traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD improve their ability to manage time management and impulse control, organizing, and executive function. It helps them understand and express their emotions and uses worksheets and activities to make the learning more interesting. Mindfulness meditation training improves CBT and enhances a person's ability to focus and regulate their emotions. It also improves a person's capacity to manage stress and arousal. It can help them deal with anger, sadness and other emotional issues that could be causing their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD report difficulties functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and could lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you boost your self-esteem, solve the root of your issue and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be a beneficial treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative thoughts and behaviors. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that contribute to negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of choices.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric disorders can reduce or exacerbate the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. It is recommended to treat the most severe comorbid condition and then observe its reaction to the medication prior treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work, establish predictable routines to manage your time and money and create confidence in yourself. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that can reduce your impulsivity and hyperactivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can help you improve your focus by stabilizing your body in different postures.
Marriage and family counseling can help adults with ADHD to solve the problems they cause their children, spouses and others. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. Therapy and classes in which spouses and other family members are taught about ADHD can help you establish better relationships. It can help you and your family members understand that the problem is due to ADHD, rather than a lack in caring or a refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is very frequent. It is often associated with co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medication interventions. There are a variety of treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Certain of these medications have been evaluated in studies. These studies have highlighted the strengths and drawbacks of the medications.
Adults suffering from ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to diagnose them because childhood symptoms may not persist until adulthood. In addition, adults with ADHD may not have a family history of the disorder in their family or they may not remember experiencing symptoms. It is important to have an extensive medical history in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to an illness like thyroid issues or sleep apnea, and vision issues.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and nonstimulant medications. Stimulants are the most effective medication for adults suffering from ADHD and their responsiveness rates are within the 70-80 percent range. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are among the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate is also accessible in a transdermal system, which permits continuous drug delivery throughout the day.
Nonstimulant medicines for adults suffering from ADHD are primarily tricyclic antidepressants which work on norepinephrine and dopamine. Desipramine, the most researched tricyclic, has shown to be effective in adult ADHD patients. It is a low dose medication and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every seven days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL another antidepressant, has been proven to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transportationer which increases its accessibility to the brain. The drug has been proven to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults. However, it is not as effective as stimulants in improving concentration or cognitive function.