Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from adhd are treated through therapy, medication and support from the family. Patients can also take part in clinical trials to test new ways of treating ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to benefit from stimulant medication. They must be monitored regularly. This includes monthly clinical appointments and frequent reviews of symptoms.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are referred to as psychostimulants. They work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will recommend the right medication for you and will decide the best dose and schedule to take it. It may take a while to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that is able to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are usually the first medication doctors prescribe for adults suffering from ADHD. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine found in your brain and norepinephrine, which allows you to manage your impulses and improve your focus. They are available in short-, intermediateand long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last for up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting drugs last up to 16. Long-acting stimulants are less likely cause adverse effects than intermediate- or shorter-acting medicines. However, they may induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
Nonstimulant drugs, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera), can be used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause undesirable adverse consequences. These medications do not alter your norepinephrine or dopamine however they do increase the amount of norepinephrine, which improves your focus. These capsules are consumed once or two times a day.
Some adults with ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and they can influence the way you respond to treatment for ADHD. It's important to treat any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have a history of substance use 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 process that involves talking and discussing topics that are troubling or disturbing for a person. The therapist offers guidance in accordance with their training, experience, credentials, and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy can be short-term, (a couple of weeks or months), addressing more immediate issues, or more long-term. The patient and therapist decide on the length and frequency of therapy.
The use of psychotherapy and medications together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies to manage emotions such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and increase focus, which leads to more efficient and successful work and academic performance.
Adults who suffer from ADHD have a higher likelihood of co-existing illnesses. This is particularly relevant for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is crucial to treat any co-existing disorders. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different types and dosages of medication than those used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also be suffering from hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without destabilizing the patient's hypertension it is essential to understand how different medications affect people over time and the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose a therapist with whom you have an excellent relationship and who is experienced in treating adults with ADHD. It is important to schedule your initial sessions at a time when you won't be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults suffering from ADHD often face many issues in their lives, including relationships and work problems. A person with ADHD may be prone to anger, frustration and blame that have developed over time. Psychosocial therapies can help patients and their families develop new abilities, attitudes and ways of communicating.
Psychotherapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals change their behavior and thinking. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, and teaching strategies for improving organization and self-esteem. This can be accomplished individually or in a group. Some studies have shown that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve performance for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also need counseling to address specific difficulties. These may include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulty dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop skills to help deal with these situations and enhance communication and problem-solving skills. It can also help improve relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Family therapy and support groups therapy are two other types of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These can help families deal with the anxiety of having a child suffering from ADHD, as well as develop skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It can assist parents to understand the disorder, and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive results in their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and disclose any other medications, including over the drug products. Some medications can interact with certain medications or trigger adverse effects that are exacerbated by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough assessment and diagnosis, it is essential to monitor the patient's condition to ensure that the patient receives the benefits of the medication and does not suffer from side adverse effects. It is recommended to see a patient for the initial clinical monitoring within 30days of starting treatment and every month after that. This allows for the proper titration of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines to a well-tolerated, effective dose. This allows accurate registration of the patient's response and helps to avoid keeping a patients who are sensitive to doses that are too low.
For adults who are unable to respond well to stimulant medication or experience uncontrollable side effects the use of nonstimulant medication could be recommended. Most often, this is the use of atomoxetine, or other related alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have comorbid disorders like mood disorder or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. They may also suffer from medical conditions like hearing or vision problems or chronic sleep disorders. It is crucial to identify and analyze these conditions as part of the initial assessment for ADHD since these can have significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be treated through marital therapy. Spouses often report that they feel overburdened by the responsibilities to care for their spouses who have ADHD and can become resentful and angry in the process. Reducing resentment can be achieved by enhancing the understanding of his/her condition, and helping untreated adhd in female adults them to understand that the symptoms are not the result of an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who undergo this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD is typically advised. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy helps patients improve their organizational skills, focus and manage impulsive behavior. It teaches patients to manage their work, home and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients to understand how their condition affects different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help decrease the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that is often seen in those with ADHD, who may be considered lazy or insufficiently intelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mimicked by a variety of psychiatric disorders. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be assessed according to the need, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are connected to them.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated using the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been proven that a combination of psychotherapy and medication yields better results than either therapy alone. Future controlled medication studies will try to measure and assess improvements in functional performance, for example, better functioning at school or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.