Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adults with adhd focuses on medication, therapy and family support. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to benefit from stimulant drugs. They require monitoring regularly. This includes monthly clinical appointments and regular examinations of symptoms.
Medicines
There are many medications that can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you and will decide on the most appropriate dosage and schedule. It may take a while to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine in your brain and norepinephrine which helps you to control your impulses and focus. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last for about 6 hours, intermediate-acting drugs last 8-10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause negative effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting medications, but they can still cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.
Nonstimulant medications, like Atomoxetine (Strattera), can be used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause unwanted side negative effects. These medicines don't affect the levels of norepinephrine or dopamine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain, and improve your ability to focus. The capsules are taken one or two times a day.
Many people with ADHD may also suffer from other psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These disorders are referred to as comorbidities and may affect how you respond to ADHD treatment. It is important to address any comorbid disorders prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have an addiction history to drugs or disorder are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. It is recommended to wait until someone has quit using drugs before using stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that involves talking and discussing topics that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist provides guidance in accordance with their training, experience, credentials and therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or even months), addressing more immediate issues, or more long-term. The duration and frequency of treatment are determined by the therapist and patient together.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication together is a highly effective treatment for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach techniques to manage emotions like anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms and increase focus, leading to more efficient and successful academic and work.
Adults who suffer from ADHD have a higher risk of co-existing conditions. This is especially applicable to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is crucial to treat any co-existing condition. The treatment of co-existing disorders could require different types of medications and dosages than those that are used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also be suffering from hypertension. Selecting a medication that addresses the ADHD symptoms but does not alter the patient's tentatively controlled hypertension requires knowledge of how various medications affect people over time, as well as an understanding of the interactions between various medications.
It is essential to locate a therapist who has experience treating adults with ADHD and with whom you feel comfortable. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you won't be distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD face many challenges in their lives, such as issues at work and with relationships. They also may experience frustration, blame and anger that have developed in their lives because of their symptoms. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven to aid them and their families develop new attitudes, skills and ways of relating.
Psychotherapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, a type of psychotherapy that aids individuals to change their thinking and behavior. It includes goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. It may be done in individual or group sessions. A few studies have proven that the use of metacognitive therapy can reduce symptoms and improve functioning in adults with ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors 2002).
Some people with ADHD may also require therapy to help them overcome specific life issues. These may include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help you develop the strategies to help manage these situations and improve communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and support groups therapy are also types of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These can help families deal with the stress of having a child suffering from ADHD and develop skills to improve communication and reduce conflicts. It can help parents understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive results in their children.
Adults how to get adhd treatment with ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and inform them of any other medications, including over-the drug products. Some medications can cause side effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is made it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure that he or she is receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing adverse effects. It is recommended that patients be referred for initial clinical monitoring within 30 days of beginning treatment and then every month following that. This allows for a thorough adjustment of psychostimulants like amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated and effective dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patient's response and helps to avoid the patient from being kept taking insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses to excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who are not responding well to stimulant medications or have unwanted side effects that are difficult to tolerate could benefit from non-stimulant medications. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other related alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults suffering from ADHD are frequently affected by comorbid disorders, like depression or drug abuse. Moreover, they may have persistent sleep disturbances or medical issues like hearing and vision problems. It is crucial to identify and evaluate such conditions in the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be controlled through marital therapy. Couples often say that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities of caring for their spouses with ADHD and can become angry and angry in the process. The way to reduce resentment is by enhancing the patient's awareness of their illness, and helping them to understand that the symptoms are not caused by a lack in love or willfulness. Couples who undergo this kind of therapy tend to be more functional as a family.
Behavioral Therapy
For people who suffer from ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy helps patients improve their organizational skills, focus and manage impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their home, work, and social situations more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help alleviate the self-doubt and shame that is commonly seen in those with ADHD, who may be viewed as lazy or insufficiently intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders mimic ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are seen at a higher rate in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found in greater numbers among those suffering from the disorder. If needed the presence of any other psychiatric disorders should be evaluated to determine whether ADHD symptoms are a result of them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been shown that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is utilized results are more favorable than the results of either treatment alone. Future controlled studies will aim to measure and assess improvements in functional performance, for example, improved functioning in school or at work, as well as interpersonal relationships.