Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adhd in adults is based on therapy, medication and family support. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for adults with ADHD. But they need to be closely monitored. That includes monthly clinical appointments, and frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
There are many medications that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you and determine the most appropriate dosage and time to take it. It may take some time to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that control your symptoms.
Stimulants are typically the first prescription medication doctors recommend to adults suffering from ADHD. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine in your brain and norepinephrine which aids in controlling your thoughts and improve your focus. They come in short-, intermediate- and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants can last up to up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have less negative effects than shorter- and intermediate-acting medications, but they still cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause unpleasant side negative effects. These medicines do not affect the levels of dopamine or norepinephrine however they do increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine. They also improve your focus. These capsules are consumed once or twice daily.
Some adults with ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and they can impact the way you respond to treatment for ADHD. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is important to address any comorbid issues. For instance, people who have an history of using substances disorder are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It is recommended to wait until a person has quit using drugs before using stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process of discussing and talking about things that can be troubling or troubling for a person. The therapist gives advice on the basis of his or her training, experience, credentials, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a couple of weeks or months) and can address more immediate issues, or long-term. The therapist and patient decide on the duration and frequency of treatment.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is a highly effective treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach methods to manage emotions like anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, improve focus and lead to better academic and work performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely of co-existing conditions. This is especially relevant for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is important that any co-existing conditions be treated prior to starting treatment for ADHD. The treatment of co-existing conditions could require different types of medications and dosages than the medications prescribed to treat ADHD.
For example, a person with ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. Finding a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms but doesn't destabilize the patient's hypertension that is controlled requires knowledge of how different medications affect people over time, as well as an understanding of the interactions between different medications.
It is essential to find an therapy provider with whom you have a good relations, and who has experience treating adults with ADHD. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you will not be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD have many difficulties in their lives, such as issues in their relationships and at work. They may also feel anger, blame, and frustration that have developed in their lives because of their symptoms. Several psychosocial treatments have been proven to help them and their families learn new behaviors, skills, and ways of communicating.
Psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of psychotherapy that assists individuals change their behavior and thinking. It includes goal-setting, skills training and practice, as well as methods to help improve organization and self-esteem. This can be done individually or in a group. Certain studies have demonstrated that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and colleagues 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD require counseling to address specific issues. This could include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behavior, or difficulty dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help teach skills to manage these situations, improve communication and increase problem-solving capabilities. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Family therapy and support groups therapy are other forms of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and improve their skills to manage conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It also helps parents understand the disorder and develop parenting techniques that promote positive outcomes for their children.
It is important for adults with ADHD to discuss their medications with their health care providers regularly, and to reveal all other medications they are taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications may interact with specific medications or cause side effects that are worsened by other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis, it is crucial to monitor the patient's condition to ensure that the patient receives the benefits of the medication and doesn't experience any adverse side effects. It is recommended to consult patients for initial medical monitoring read more within 30 days of beginning treatment, and then every month thereafter. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines) this allows for complete titration to an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This allows accurate registration of the patients' response and helps to avoid keeping a sensitive patient on insufficient doses.
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medication or who have side effects that are intolerable might benefit from non-stimulant drugs. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine or other related methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are often affected by comorbid disorders, like depression or substance abuse. They might also be suffering from medical issues like hearing and vision problems or chronic sleep disorders. It is crucial to identify and analyze these conditions in the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
Marital therapy is also useful in the treatment of ADHD. Couples often say that they feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can become resentful and angry as a result. The way to reduce resentment is by increasing the patient's understanding of the condition, and assisting them understand that the symptoms aren't caused by a lack in affection or willfulness. Couples who undergo this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is typically advised. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy helps patients improve their focus, organization skills, and control impulsive behaviors. It teaches patients to manage their work, home, and social situations in more productive ways. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their disorder impacts different areas of their life and relationships. This can help decrease the shame and low self-esteem that is commonly seen in people with ADHD, who may be considered inept or unintelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mimicked by a variety of psychiatric disorders. For example anxiety disorders are found at a higher rate in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found at higher levels in adults with the disorder. The presence of other psychiatric issues should be analyzed according to the need, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are connected to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is typically recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that a combination of psychotherapy and medication produces superior results over either treatment by itself. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to track and evaluate functional improvements, such as improvement in school performance or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.