ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common disorder of the nervous system that affects 44% of the population. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and alcohol abuse) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine are the most commonly prescribed medications.
Medicines
Many adults suffering from ADHD have significant improvement in their symptoms and performance as a result of medication. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD find the combination of medications that is effective for them.
Stimulants, including methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the most commonly prescribed medications for adults with ADHD. These stimulants are available as tablets or liquids in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hour. Adults can augment an immediate-release medicine with an extended-release long-acting medicine at least once a week to reduce the necessity to take it frequently throughout the day.
Antidepressants such as desipramine have also been found to be effective in treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of medications can be employed in conjunction with stimulants, or in isolation to boost their effects. They can also increase the risk of serious side effects, including rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam and clonidine can also be utilized to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These medications, originally designed to treat high blood pressure, possess the ability to calm and increase focus and reduce the level of hyperactivity and impulsivity among certain adults. These medications can cause extremely low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is decreased.
Adults suffering from ADHD may also benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy can help them cope with feelings of shame and embarrassment about their ADHD as well as anger toward supervisors, colleagues, teachers and family members who might be a source of criticism or nagging them. Additionally counseling for families and marriages can help couples suffering from ADHD understand each other's problems and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
One of the main goals of psychosocial therapy for adult ADHD is to teach strategies and techniques that enhance performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help people with ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the feeling of inadequacy they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in changing the negative thoughts that cause problems in their lives and to learn new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as doing. This short-term and goal-oriented therapy has been proven effective in treating many disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in combination with other therapies.
CBT can involve group therapy, which is especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to meet others with similar challenges and to discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or by phone. One study compared the effects of CBT against conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments produced improvements in self-report measures of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
CBT has been compared with other psychosocial treatments in adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies have shown significant reductions in ADHD symptoms and effects, with sizes that range from moderate to large. These improvements were attributed to diverse approaches, including interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, problem-solving training, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is advised in comparing the efficacy of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that variations in the outcomes are due to a variety of variables such as the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used and the background of the patient. There are few studies that have investigated the effectiveness neurofeedback. This technique involves wearing an electrode-lined hat while performing cognitive tasks in order to identify brain areas where there is excessive or inadequate activity. The individual then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD have anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these issues, which may contribute to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy techniques that can help improve a person’s ability to resolve conflicts and develop meaningful relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behaviors that could cause difficulties at school or at work.
In certain situations psychotherapy is sometimes used in combination with medication for adults adhd treatment. People with multiple disorders like addiction to substances, depression and bipolar disorder need to 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, should be treated with more vigor.
If ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be suggested. These programs provide an organized treatment that is more intense than the traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a form of cognitive therapy, assists adults with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as planning and executive function. It helps them recognize and express emotions, and it uses activities and worksheets to make the lessons engaging. Meditation training that is mindful enhances CBT and enhances the ability of a person to concentrate and manage their emotions. It also increases a person's ability to tolerate anxiety and stress. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger and other difficult feelings that may be contributing towards their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD often have difficulties functioning at home and at work. In addition to impacting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and may lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help improve your self-esteem, resolve underlying problems and establish healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps you modify your negative thoughts and behaviors. It is focused on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that can lead to negative moods and the perception of limited possibilities.
Many adults with ADHD have anxiety or depression disorders that are comorbid. These psychiatric disorders can reduce or exacerbate the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended that you first treat the most severe comorbid condition and then monitor its response to the medication prior to treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you learn ways to organize your life and your work, create regular routines, manage your time and money and build an optimistic self-image. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that could decrease your impulsivity and hyperactivity. Yoga and other exercises can help you improve concentration by stabilizing your body in different poses.
Counseling for families and marriage can assist adults suffering from ADHD to resolve the issues they cause their children, spouses and friends. They often complain about being erratic and unorganized. They often forget things or make decisions impulsively. Classes and therapy in which spouses and other family members are educated on ADHD can help you establish better relationships. It can help you and your family members to understand that the problem is due to ADHD and not a lack in caring or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that is extremely prevalent. untreated adhd in female adults symptoms is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity. This includes depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medical interventions. There are a variety of medications available for adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the various medications.
Adults with ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, however it can be difficult to diagnose them because the symptoms of childhood may not persist into adulthood. Adults who suffer from ADHD may not have an ancestral history of the disorder or may not be aware of symptoms. It is important to have a thorough medical history to determine if the symptoms are related to a medical condition, like thyroid issues such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision issues.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. doctors that treat adhd in adults have the highest response rates for adults with ADHD. Their responsiveness rates vary from 70 to 70% to 80%. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate is also administered via a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery during the day.
Adults with ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that are based on norepinephrine, or dopamine. Desipramine is one of the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low-dose medication which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is noticed.
Bupropion XL is another antidepressant which has been proven to be effective in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist that is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter which increases its accessibility to the brain. This drug has been proven to improve mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, but it's not as effective in improving cognitive function or concentration as stimulants.