ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known condition of the nervous system that affects around 4,4% of the population. It is accompanied by high levels of co-morbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and substance abuse) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medications are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine are among the most frequently prescribed medications.
Medications
Many adults suffering from ADHD have significant improvements in their symptoms and performance as a result of medication. It is essential that those with ADHD discover the right combination of medications that is effective for them.
Stimulants, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. These stimulants are available as 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 medicine at least every week to decrease the requirement to take it often throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated effectively with antidepressants, like desipramine. This class of medications can be utilized in conjunction with stimulants, or in isolation to boost their effects. However, treatment for add adhd in adults can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, such as rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
adhd treatment for adults with ADHD can also be treated using alprazolam and clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can help improve focus and reduce the amount of hyperactivity and impulsivity in some adults. These medications can cause extremely low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced.
Adults with ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy helps those with ADHD to overcome feelings of embarrassment, shame, and resentment toward coworkers, teachers, supervisors and family members who might criticize or nag them. Additionally counseling for marriage and families can help couples suffering from ADHD be able to recognize each other's challenges and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
A key goal of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to help people learn skills and strategies that improve functioning in daily life. Psychotherapy can help people with ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the sense of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavior therapy, assists people to change negative thoughts and feelings that cause difficulties in their lives. It teaches them new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating many disorders, such as depression and anxiety. It can be utilized in conjunction with other therapies or alone.
CBT may involve group therapy, which can be especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to interact with other people who are facing similar issues and discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be provided in person or via phone. One study compared the effects of CBT in comparison to standard therapy for adults with ADHD and discovered that both treatments resulted in improvement in self-report measures of functioning, symptoms and quality of life.
CBT has been studied in comparison to other psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms and effects, with sizes that range from moderate to large. These improvements were linked to diverse modalities like interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy as well as social skills training, problem-solving training, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required in comparing the efficacy of various treatments for adult ADHD. It is possible that the differences in the results of treatment result from a variety of factors, including the treatment characteristics and the measures used. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback, an approach that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to identify areas of the brain where there is too much or little activity - and then instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD also have comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these problems, which may contribute to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy strategies include interpersonal therapy to enhance a person's ability to build meaningful relationships and to resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to change negative behavior and assist in managing self-destructive and impulsive behavior which can lead to issues at school or at work.
In certain cases psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medications for adults adhd treatment. Patients with comorbid disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to ensure that they do not have symptoms that cannot be improved by the medication used to treat ADHD. People with certain medical issues such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and an history of seizures must be treated more aggressively because they are at higher risk of developing complications from the medications.
If ADHD is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs might be recommended. These programs offer more intense and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD enhance their ability to manage their time, impulse control, planning, and executive function. It teaches them to recognize and express their emotions and utilizes activities and worksheets to make the lessons interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and enhances the capacity of a person's ability to concentrate and manage emotions. It also increases a person's ability to handle stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness, and other difficult feelings which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD often report difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting work performance, these issues can interfere with relationships and could cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you build confidence in yourself and address the root of the issue. It can also help you develop healthy coping strategies.
treatment for add adhd in adults -behavioral therapy is a successful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD and teaches them how to change their negative attitudes and behaviors. It is focused on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that contribute to negative moods, and the perception that there are only a few possibilities.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or increase the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended to treat the most severe comorbid condition and then monitor the response to the medication prior to treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can teach you how to manage your life and work, create predictable routines, manage time and money, and create a positive self-image. It can also help you master relaxation techniques that can reduce your impulsivity and hyperactivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing your body in different poses.
Family and marriage counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to overcome the problems they create for their spouses, kids and other family members. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. Therapy and classes in which spouses and other family members are educated on ADHD can help you build better relationships. Moreover, it can aid you and your loved ones understand that these issues are due to the patient's ADHD rather than to a lack of caring or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that is highly prevalent. It is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication treatments are available as treatment options. A variety of medications are available for adults with ADHD and a few of them have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the various medications.
Adults with ADHD have the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to identify them since the symptoms of childhood may not persist until adulthood. In addition, adults with ADHD may not have a family history of the disorder in their families or they may not even remember experiencing symptoms. It is important to have an extensive medical history to determine if the symptoms are related to a medical condition, such as thyroid problems such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision problems.
Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or nonstimulants. Stimulants are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD and their response rates are in the 70 - 80 percent range. The most frequently used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate is also administered via a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery throughout the daytime.
Nonstimulant drugs for adults with ADHD are primarily tricyclic antidepressants which work on dopamine and norepinephrine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose drug and should be increased by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been proven to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine receptor agonist and blocks the reuptake process of norepinephrine by the presynaptic receptor, thereby increasing its presence in the brain. This drug has been found to improve mood and reduce hyperactivity in adults, but it is not as effective as stimulants in improving concentration or cognitive function.