ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common condition of the nervous system that affects 4,4 percent of the population. It is associated with a high rate of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD experience significant improvements in their symptoms and functioning as a result of medication. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD find the combination of medications that works for them.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in tablets or liquids 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 medicine at least once a week to reduce the need to take it frequently throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD are also treated effectively with antidepressants, like desipramine. This class of medications can be used on its own or in conjunction with stimulants to increase their effects. They can also increase the danger of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam as well as clonidine are utilized to treat adults with ADHD. These medications, originally designed to treat high blood pressure, can have the ability to calm and enhance focus and decrease the level of hyperactivity and impulsivity among some adults. These medications can result in very low blood pressure when they suddenly stop, or the dosage is decreased.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy helps people deal with feelings of shame, embarrassment and resentment towards co-workers and supervisors, teachers, and family members that may criticize or nag them. Family and marriage counseling can be a great option to help couples with ADHD to better understand each other and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD seeks to improve everyday functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can help individuals with ADHD overcome their low self-esteem, and the feeling of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change their negative thoughts and emotions that are causing problems in their lives. It teaches them new ways to think, feel and act. This short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. It can be used on its own or in combination with other therapies.
CBT can include group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for adults with ADHD as it allows them to meet others who face similar challenges and learn how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or over the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to standard therapy for adults who have ADHD. Both treatments improved self-report measures like symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD and have all shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect sizes. These improvements were linked to a variety modalities including cognitive and interpersonal therapy, social skills training, problem solving training, as well as mindfulness mediation.
It is crucial to evaluate the efficacy between different treatment options for adults with ADHD with caution. It is likely that the variations in the outcomes reflect a number of variables, including treatment characteristics, measures used as well as the backgrounds of the patients. A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback, an approach that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap when performing cognitive tasks to determine areas in the brain where there is too much or too little activity. Then, instructing the person to manage these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD also have comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that need treatment. Counseling can help with these problems, which may be contributing to the ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy techniques that can help improve the ability of individuals to resolve conflicts and develop meaningful relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help people manage self-destructive, impulsive, and negative behaviors that could cause problems at school or work.
In some cases psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medication for adults adhd treatment. People who have comorbid conditions like bipolar disorder, and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to ensure that they do not suffer from symptoms that aren't improved by the medications that are prescribed to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history of seizures, should be treated more aggressively.
In-depth outpatient programs could be recommended if the person's ADHD is so severe that it hinders their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs offer a more intense and controlled treatment than standard outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD improve their abilities to manage time, impulse control, executive function, and planning. It helps them understand and express emotions, and it uses activities and worksheets to make the learning interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and improves the ability of a person's ability to concentrate and regulate emotions. It also enhances an individual's ability to handle stress and arousal. It can help them cope with sadness, anger, and other emotional issues that could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. These issues can also impact relationships and can lead to financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues will help you build confidence in yourself and solve the underlying issues. It will also help you develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a successful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD, as it helps them to alter their negative attitudes and behavior. Particularly, it concentrates on teaching you to utilize strategies for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that cause negative moods and the perception of a limited selection.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from comorbid anxiety or depression. These psychiatric conditions can decrease or exacerbate the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended to treat the most severe comorbidity and then monitor the response to the medication before treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you learn ways to organize your life and your work, set up routines that are predictable, manage time and money and build an optimistic self-image. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that may reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can aid in improving your focus by ensuring your body is stable in different postures.
Counseling for families and marriage can help address the issues that people with ADHD frequently cause their children, spouses, and other family members. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. You can strengthen your relationships by educating your spouses and family members about ADHD. Moreover it can aid you and your loved ones understand that these issues are linked to the patient's ADHD rather than to an absence of care or a willful refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly frequent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by a high rate of comorbidity, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include medication and psychosocial interventions. There are a variety of treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Certain of these medications have been evaluated in trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the medication.
Adults who suffer from ADHD may experience the same symptoms as children have, but it's difficult to determine since childhood symptoms may not last into adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD may not have an ancestral history of the disorder, or may not be aware of symptoms. A thorough medical history is important to determine if the symptoms are due to medical conditions such as a thyroid problem or sleep apnea, vision and hearing problems or lead poisoning.
Treatments for adults suffering from ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their responsiveness rates range between 70 and 80percent. adhd treatment for adults online used stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate is also available in a transdermal system, which permits continuous supply of medication throughout the day.
Nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants which work on norepinephrine and dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic drug and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose drug and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been proven to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that works by blocking norepinephrine reuptake in the presynaptic cellular transporter, increasing its availability in brain. The drug is known to improve mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, however, it's not as effective at improving cognitive function or concentration as stimulants.