ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurological disorder that affects 4,4 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high levels of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and substance abuse) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Medications and psychotherapy are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine are the most commonly prescribed medications.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD notice significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning in response to medication. It is crucial that people with ADHD find the combination of medications that is effective for them.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. They are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. Adults can supplement their immediate-release medicine with an extended-release, long-acting medicine every week to decrease the necessity to take it often throughout the day.
Antidepressants such as desipramine have also been proven to be effective in treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs can be used alone or in combination with stimulants to increase their effects. They may also increase the danger of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam as well as clonidine are utilized to treat adults with ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming affect and may improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in certain adults. These medications can lead to very low blood pressure when they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is decreased.
Adults with ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy can help people overcome feelings of embarrassment, shame, and resentment toward coworkers, teachers, supervisors and family members who might nitpick or criticize them. Additionally, marriage and family counseling 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 adults ADHD is to help people learn strategies and skills that help improve function in everyday life. Psychotherapy can also assist people with ADHD to overcome the low self-esteem and feelings of failure that is often associated with this condition.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy assists people in changing their negative thoughts and emotions that are causing problems in their lives. It teaches them new ways to think, feel and act. This short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy has been found to be effective in treating a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
CBT may also include group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for adults with ADHD as it allows them to connect with others who are facing similar issues and learn about how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or via the phone. One study examined the effects of CBT against conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments led to improvement in self-report assessments of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
CBT has been compared to other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies have shown significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, with effect sizes that range from moderate to large. These improvements were attributed to diverse approaches that include cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving exercises, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is warranted in comparing the effectiveness of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that the differences in outcome results depend on a variety of factors that include treatment characteristics, measures used, and patient backgrounds. adhd treatment for adults online have examined the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This method involves wearing an electrode-lined hat while doing cognitive tasks to identify brain areas where there is excessive or insufficient activity. The person then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD also suffer from comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these issues, which could 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 is designed to help people manage self-destructive, impulsive and negative behavior that can cause problems at work or school.
In some cases, psychotherapy is used as an adjunct to the medication used for ADHD treatment for adults. People who have comorbid conditions such as bipolar disorder and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to make sure they don't have symptoms that are not improved by the medications used to treat ADHD. Patients with certain medical conditions, including thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and an history of seizures must be treated more aggressively because they are at a higher risk for complications from the medication.
If ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with everyday functioning and quality of life intensive outpatient programs might be suggested. These programs provide structured therapy that is more intense than the traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of cognitive therapy, assists adults suffering from ADHD to improve their ability to manage time planning, impulse control and executive function. It helps them understand and express emotions, and it uses activities and worksheets to make the learning interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance CBT and improves the ability of a person to focus and manage emotions. It also improves a person's ability to tolerate the effects of stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness and other emotional issues which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting their work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues will help you improve your self-esteem and address the root of the issue. It can also help you develop healthy ways of coping.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults with ADHD because it helps you modify your negative beliefs and behaviors. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that contribute to negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of possibilities.
Many people with ADHD also suffer from comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric illnesses may aggravate or reduce the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbidity first and observe the response to treatment before proceeding to treatment of the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you learn how to manage your life and work, create predictable routines, manage money and time and develop confidence in yourself. It can also help you learn relaxation techniques that may decrease your impulsivity and hyperactivity. Similarly yoga and other exercises can help you improve your focus by stabilizing the body in various poses.
Family and marriage counseling can address the problems that adults with ADHD frequently cause their spouses, children and other family members. They frequently complain of being unstable, unorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. Therapy and classes where spouses and other family members are educated on ADHD can help you develop healthier relationships. Moreover it can help you and your loved ones realize that these issues are due to the patient's ADHD rather than to the lack of compassion or a willful refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is extremely common. It is often accompanied by other disorders that are comorbid, such as anxiety, depression and abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication interventions are available as treatment options. A wide range of medications are available to adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have revealed the advantages and drawbacks of the medications.
Adults suffering from ADHD suffer from the same issues as children, however it can be difficult to diagnose them because the symptoms of childhood may not persist throughout adulthood. Adults with ADHD might not have an ancestral history of the disorder, or may not be aware of symptoms. It is important to have an extensive medical history in order to determine if the symptoms are due to an illness, such as thyroid problems such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision problems.
Adults with ADHD are treated with stimulants or nonstimulants. Stimulants have the highest reaction rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their rates of responsiveness vary from 70 to 80%. The most frequently used stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate is also administered via a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery during the daytime.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take non-stimulant drugs that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medication and should be increased by 50 mg every seven days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant, was shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transportationer which increases its accessibility to the brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults. However, it is not as effective as stimulants in improving cognitive performance or concentration.