ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects around 4,4 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine are among the most frequently prescribed medications.
Medications
Many people with ADHD experience significant improvements in symptoms and functioning due to medications. Because of the different ways that people respond to medication, it is crucial for people with ADHD to discover a combination that is most effective.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most frequently prescribed drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. These stimulants are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hours. Some adults can supplement their immediate-release dose with an extended-release or longer-acting drug that is taken daily to reduce the requirement for frequent doses throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can be treated effectively with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of drugs can be used alone or in combination with stimulants to enhance their effects. They can also increase the risk of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam and clonidine can also be used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can help improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in some adults. However, these drugs can cause a very low blood pressure if they are suddenly removed or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy can also be beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual talk therapy can help them deal with feelings of shame and embarrassment over their ADHD as well as resentment toward co-workers, supervisors teachers, and family members who might be a source of criticism or nagging them. Counseling for families and marriage is a great method to help couples with ADHD to better understand each other and improve their communication.
Behavioral Therapy
A key goal of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to teach strategies and skills that help improve function in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help those who suffer from ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the sense of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals change the negative thoughts that create problems in their lives and to learn new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. This short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy has proven to be effective for a variety of illnesses including anxiety and depression. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
CBT could involve group therapy, which can be especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to interact with other people with similar challenges and to discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be provided in person or by 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 assessments of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for people with ADHD and have all shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect size. These improvements were associated with diverse modalities like interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy, social skills training, problem solving training, and mindfulness mediation.
It is essential to assess the effectiveness of various treatments for adult ADHD with caution. treatment for add adhd in adults is likely that variations in the outcomes depend on a variety of factors such as treatment characteristics, measures employed as well as the backgrounds of the patients. There are few studies that have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This technique involves wearing a hat with electrodes while performing cognitive tasks to identify brain areas where there is excessive or inadequate activity. The individual then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD have mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can address these problems that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is among the psychotherapy methods which can improve a person’s ability to resolve conflicts and build lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behaviors that can cause difficulties at school or at work.
In certain cases psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to medication for adult adhd in adults treatment . Patients suffering from co-occurring disorders like depression, substance abuse and bipolar disorder should be assessed to ensure their symptoms are not worsened by medications used to treat ADHD. Patients with certain medical conditions like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and seizures in the past, need to be treated with more vigor because they are at higher risk of complications from medications.
When ADHD is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be recommended. These programs provide structured therapy that is more intense than the traditional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of cognitive therapy, helps adults with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as planning and executive function. It helps them recognize and express feelings and utilizes activities and worksheets to make the lessons engaging. The training in mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and enhances the capacity of a person's ability to concentrate and regulate emotions. It also enhances an individual's capacity to manage anxiety and stress. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness and other emotions that may be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to impacting work performance, these issues can interfere with relationships and could cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues will allow you improve your self-esteem and solve the underlying issues. It will also help you develop healthy ways of coping.
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 you to use strategies for managing time and overcoming mental distortions that lead to negative moods and perceptions of limited choices.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or exacerbate the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended to first treat the most severe comorbidity and then monitor its reaction to the medication prior treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work, establish predictable routines that help you manage your money and time, and develop confidence in yourself. It can also help you master relaxation techniques that can reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other workouts can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing your body in various postures.
Marriage and family counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to resolve the issues they create for their children, spouses and others. They often complain of being erratic and unorganized. They often forget things or make impulsive decisions. You can strengthen relationships by teaching your spouses and other family members about ADHD. Furthermore it can aid you and your loved ones realize that these issues are linked to the patient's ADHD instead of an absence of care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder which is extremely prevalent. It is often associated with other disorders that are comorbid, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Psychosocial and medication treatments are available as treatment options. There are a range of medications available for adults with ADHD. Certain of these medications have been tested in trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the drugs.
Adults suffering from ADHD might experience the same symptoms as children do, but it is difficult to diagnose since childhood symptoms may not persist in adulthood. Adults with ADHD may not have a family background of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. It is essential to take a thorough medical history in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to an illness, like thyroid issues or sleep apnea, and vision problems.
Adults with ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. Stimulants are the most effective drugs for treating adults with ADHD and their responsiveness rates are in the 70 - 80% range. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate is also accessible as a transdermal solution, that allows for continuous drug delivery throughout the day.
Nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants which work on dopamine and norepinephrine. Desipramine is one of the most studied tricyclic and has been shown to be effective in adult patients with ADHD. It is a low dose medication that is recommended to be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is noticed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been proven to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter and increasing its presence in the brain. adhd treatment adults has been proven to boost mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity but it's not as effective in improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.