Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults with adhd are treated with therapy, medication and support from the family. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medication is the most effective medications for adults with ADHD. They need to be monitored regularly. This includes monthly appointments with a doctor as well as frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
A variety of medications can be utilized to treat symptoms of ADHD among adults. These are called psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you and determine the best dose and schedule to take it. It may take some time to find the right dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults with ADHD is stimulants. They increase the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which improve your ability to concentrate and control impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants can last for up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medicines last for 8-10 hours. Long-acting drugs last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause side effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medicines, but they still can cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines such as atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD if stimulants do not perform or cause unwanted adverse effects. These medications don't alter your norepinephrine or dopamine levels, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and improve your ability to concentrate. These medications are available in capsule form and are taken either twice or three times every day.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression. These conditions are known as comorbidities, and they can affect your response to ADHD treatment. It is important to address any comorbidities prior to starting treatment for ADHD. Patients with a history of addiction to drugs are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. Because of this, it's often advisable to wait until the person has quit using substances before considering treatment with stimulants for ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves discussing and discussing issues that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist listens and offers guidance based on his or her education, training, experience as well as professional qualifications and therapeutic philosophies. Psychotherapy can be short-term, (a couple of weeks or months), addressing more immediate issues, or long-term. The duration and frequency of treatment is determined by the therapist and the patient together.
Psychotherapy and medication together are an extremely effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their ability to manage their time, organize and prioritizing. It can also teach methods to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms, increase concentration and improve academic and work performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-existing issues, especially mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. It is essential that any co-existing condition be treated before beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different forms and dosages of medication than those used to treat ADHD.
A person suffering from ADHD can also have hypertension. To choose a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension, it is important to understand how various medications affect people over time as well as the interactions between the medications.
It is essential to find the right professional with whom you share a good relations, and who is experienced in treating adults with ADHD. It is important to schedule your initial sessions at times when you aren't distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD often face many issues in their lives, including relationships and work issues. A person with ADHD may be prone to anger, frustration and blame that have been accumulated over time. Psychosocial therapies can aid patients and their families develop new abilities, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people change their habits and thoughts. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and teaching strategies to increase self-esteem and organizational skills. It can be carried out in group or individual sessions. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al. 2002).
Some people with ADHD may also require counseling to help them overcome specific life challenges. These difficulties could include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behavior, and difficulties in dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop skills to help manage these situations and improve communication and problem-solving skills. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, particularly in long-term marriages or other partnerships.
Other forms of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy and supportive group therapy. These therapies can assist families in coping and learn skills to reduce conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can aid parents understand the disorder, and develop parenting techniques that promote positive outcomes for their children.
Adults with ADHD should discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and disclose any other medications, such as over-the prescription drugs. Some medications can interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is made it is crucial that the patient be monitored to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to visit a patient for the initial medical monitoring within 30 days of starting treatment and every month thereafter. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines) this allows for a the gradual titration of an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's reaction and helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients on insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses onto unnecessarily high levels (rapid metabolizers).
treat adult add who are not responding well to stimulant medication or have adverse effects that are unpalatable may benefit from nonstimulant medications. Typically this involves the use of atomoxetine, or other related methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders like depression or drug abuse. They may also have medical problems like hearing and vision problems, or chronic sleep disorders. It is essential to identify and evaluate such conditions as part of the initial assessment for ADHD because they could have a significant impact on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be controlled through marital therapy. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses suffering from ADHD and may become angry or resentful in response. increasing the awareness of the patient about the signs of their condition and helping them understand that these are not willful actions or lack of love can reduce marital conflict and resentment. Couples who go through this type of therapy are more likely to have better functioning families.
Behavioral Therapy
For those who suffer from ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate the cognitive-behavioral aspect. treating add can help patients to improve their organizational skills and focus and control their the impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their social, work and home life more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in adults with ADHD. They may be perceived by others as lazy or unintelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are found at high rates in adults ADHD patients and depression is seen at higher levels in adults with the disorder. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be assessed, as appropriate, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been established that the combination of psychotherapy and medication produces superior results over either treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to track and measure the effects of functional improvements, such as better functioning at school, workplace, and interpersonal relationships.