ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known condition of the nervous system that affects 44% of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Both medication and psychotherapy are effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine are among the most frequently prescribed medications.
Medications
Many adults with ADHD notice significant improvements in their symptoms and performance due to medications. It is crucial that people with ADHD discover the right combination of medications that is effective for them.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. These stimulants are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hour. Adults can supplement their immediate-release medication with an extended-release long-acting medicine at least once a week to reduce the need to take it frequently throughout the day.
Desipramine and other antidepressants have also been proven to be effective in the treatment of adults with ADHD. This class of drugs may be employed in conjunction with stimulants or alone to enhance their effects. They may also increase the risk of serious side consequences, like rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam as well as clonidine are used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These medications, originally developed to treat high blood pressure, have an calming effect and are able to enhance focus and decrease the amount of impulsivity and hyperactivity in some adults. These medications can lead to very low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced.
Psychotherapy can also be beneficial for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy helps people overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment toward coworkers, teachers, supervisors and family members who might criticize or nag them. In addition, marriage and family counseling can help couples with ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
A key goal of psychosocial therapy for adults ADHD is to help people learn strategies and skills that help improve functioning in daily life. Psychotherapy can help people who suffer from ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the feeling of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that cause difficulties in their lives and to learn new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating various disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It can be used in conjunction with other treatments or by itself.
CBT could include group therapy, which can be particularly helpful for adults with ADHD because it gives the opportunity to interact with other people who have similar struggles and to learn from others how they manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be provided in person or by phone. One study compared the results of CBT with that of standard therapy for adults with ADHD and found that both treatments led to improvement in self-report assessments of functioning, symptoms and quality of life.
CBT has been studied in comparison to other psychosocial treatments in adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies have shown significant reductions in ADHD symptoms with effects ranging from medium to large. These improvements were associated with various modalities, including interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy and social skills training. problem solving training, and mindfulness mediation.
However, caution is warranted in comparing the effectiveness of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that differences in the results of treatment are due to a range of factors, including treatment features and the methods used. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This method involves wearing a hat with electrodes while doing cognitive tasks to pinpoint brain areas in which there is a lack or excess of activity. The person then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help to address these issues, which could be contributing to the ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy methods which can improve the ability of a person to resolve conflicts and build lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behaviors that could create difficulties at school or at work.
In certain cases psychotherapy may be used as an alternative to the medication used for adhd treatment for adults. People with comorbid disorders such as substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder should be assessed to ensure that their symptoms aren't made worse by the medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, need to be treated with more vigor.
If ADHD is serious enough to affect daily functioning and quality-of-life, intensive outpatient programs may be suggested. These programs offer more intensive and controlled treatment than standard outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of cognitive therapy, helps people with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time planning, impulse control and executive functioning. It teaches them to recognize and express feelings and utilizes worksheets and activities to make the learning interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance CBT and improves the ability of a person to concentrate and manage emotions. It also improves a person's ability to handle stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger, and other difficult feelings that could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and may cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help boost your self-esteem, solve the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for adults with ADHD and helps them to alter their negative thoughts and behaviors. In particular, it concentrates on teaching you to use time management strategies and overcome mental distortions that lead to negative moods and the perception of limited choices.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from anxiety or depression. These psychiatric disorders can exacerbate or reduce the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. adhd treatment for adults without medication is therefore recommended to first treat the most severe comorbidity and then monitor the reaction to the medication prior treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work, establish predictable routines that help you control your time and money and build confidence in yourself. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that can reduce your impulsivity and hyperactivity. Yoga and other exercises can help you concentration by stabilizing your body during various poses.
Marriage and family counseling can address the issues people with ADHD frequently create for their spouses, children and others. They frequently complain of being insecure, unorganized, and prone to making impulsive decisions. You can strengthen relationships by educating your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can also help you and your family members realize that the issues are due to ADHD and not the lack of care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly frequent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by a high rate of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication interventions are available as treatments. 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 limitations of the drugs.
Adults with ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to diagnose them because childhood symptoms might not last throughout adulthood. In addition, adults who suffer from ADHD might not have a family history of the disorder in their families or may not be aware of experiencing symptoms. A thorough medical history is essential to help determine whether the symptoms are due to a medical condition like thyroid problems or sleep apnea. It could also be due to issues with vision and hearing or lead poisoning.
Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or nonstimulants. The stimulants have the highest response rates for adults suffering from ADHD. Their response rates vary between 70 and 80percent. The most frequently used stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate can also be administered through a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take nonstimulant medications that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medication and should be increased by 50 mg every seven days until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transporter, increasing its availability in brain. This drug has been proven to boost mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, but it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.