ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known disorder of the nervous system that affects 4,4% of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of co-morbidity (depression anxiety, 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 the most commonly prescribed drugs.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD have significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning due to medication. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD discover the right combination of medications that is effective for them.
Stimulants, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They 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 medicine with an extended release long-acting medication every week to lessen the necessity to take it often throughout the day.
Antidepressants like desipramine have also been proven to be effective in treatment of adults with ADHD. This class of medications can be used alone or in combination with stimulants to enhance their effects. They may also increase the risk of serious side effects, including rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam and clonidine are also used for the treatment of people suffering from ADHD. These medications were initially created to treat hypertension. They have a calming affect and may improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in some adults. These medications can result in extremely low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is decreased.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults with ADHD. Individual talk therapy can help them deal with feelings of shame and embarrassment about their ADHD, as well as anger towards supervisors, coworkers teachers, family members and others who might nag or criticize them. Counseling for families and marriage is a great method to help couples suffering from ADHD better understand each other and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adults ADHD is to teach strategies and techniques that enhance function in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help individuals with ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the sense of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy assists people in changing their negative thoughts and feelings that are causing difficulties in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and act. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating many conditions, including depression and anxiety. It can be used in conjunction with other treatments or on its own.
CBT can also incorporate group therapy. This is especially beneficial for those suffering from ADHD because it enables them to meet others who have similar struggles and learn about how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or via phone. In one study, CBT was compared to the standard treatment for adults who have ADHD. Both treatments improved self-report measures such as symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
CBT has been studied in comparison to other psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD. All of these studies have shown significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, with effect sizes that range from moderate to large. These improvements were associated with various modalities, including interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is warranted in comparing the effectiveness of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that the variations in the outcomes reflect a number of variables such as treatment characteristics, measures employed and the background of the patient. A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback, an approach that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to identify areas in the brain where there is too much or too little activity. Then, instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD have mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these issues which may be causing ADHD symptoms. Some psychotherapy approaches include the use of interpersonal therapy to improve the capacity of individuals to establish meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help manage impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behaviors that can cause problems at school or work.
In certain cases psychotherapy may be utilized in combination with medication for adults who are seeking treatment for adhd. Patients with comorbid disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction to drugs should be evaluated with care to ensure that they do not suffer from symptoms that aren't improved by the medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history or seizures, must be treated with more vigor.
When ADHD is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be recommended. These programs provide more intense and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 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 functioning. It helps them identify and express their feelings. It employs worksheets and exercises to make the lessons more interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and enhances the capacity of a person to focus and manage emotions. It also enhances an individual's ability to handle stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger and other difficult emotions that may be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. These issues can also impact relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you boost your self-esteem, solve underlying problems and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps you modify your negative beliefs and behaviors. It concentrates on teaching time management techniques and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that can cause negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of possibilities.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric conditions can cause or decrease the effectiveness of some drugs used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbid disorder first and then monitor its response to medication before proceeding to treatment of the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work and establish routines that are predictable that help you manage your time and money and create a positive image of yourself. It can also help you learn relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can help you focus better by stabilizing the body in different poses.
Marriage and family counseling can help address the issues that adults suffering from ADHD often create for their spouses, children and others. They frequently complain that they are insecure, unorganized, and prone to making impulsive decisions. Therapy and classes where spouses and other family members are educated on ADHD can help you develop better relationships. It can also help you and your family members to understand that the issues are due to ADHD and not the lack of care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a prevalent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity. This includes anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medical interventions. There are a range of treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Certain of these medications have been tested in studies. These studies have exposed the strengths and the limitations of the medications.
Adults who suffer from ADHD may experience the same symptoms that children do, but it is difficult to determine because childhood symptoms might not persist in adulthood. Adults with ADHD may also not have any family history of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. A thorough medical history is essential to help determine whether the symptoms are caused by a medical condition like thyroid problems or sleep apnea, hearing and vision problems or lead poisoning.
Treatments for adults suffering from ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their rates of responsiveness range from 70 to 80%. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate may also be administered via a transdermal device. This allows for continuous medication delivery throughout the daytime.
Nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD are primarily tricyclic antidepressants which work on norepinephrine and dopamine. Desipramine, the most researched tricyclic, has been shown to work in adult ADHD patients. It is a low-dose medication which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL another antidepressant, has been shown to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transportationer, increasing its availability in brain. Read the Full Article is known to boost mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity but it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive function as stimulants.