Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adhd in adults includes therapy, medication and family support. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medication is the most effective drugs for adults with ADHD. They must be monitored regularly. That includes monthly clinical appointments as well as frequent reviews of symptoms and side effects.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will select the appropriate medication for you and will decide on the most appropriate dosage and schedule. It may take some time to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.
Stimulants are usually the first prescribed medication by doctors to adults suffering from ADHD. These medicines increase the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which enhances your ability to concentrate and manage impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate-and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants last for about 6 hours, intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause adverse reactions than intermediate or shorter-acting medications. However, they can 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 undesirable side effects. These medications do not alter your dopamine or norepinephrine levels however, they can increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine, which improves your ability to concentrate. The capsules are taken one or twice a day.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and they can influence how you respond to treatment for ADHD. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is important to address any comorbid issues. For instance, those who have an history of using substances disorder may be more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It is best to wait until someone has quit using drugs before taking them on with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process that involves discussing and talking about topics that cause anxiety or are disturbing to a person. The therapist listens and offers advice based on his or her training, education, experience professional credentials and therapeutic philosophical philosophies. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a couple of weeks or months) or addressing more immediate issues, or longer-term. The duration and frequency of treatment is determined by the patient and therapist together.
Psychotherapy and medication are an extremely effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their organizational skills, time management and prioritizing; it can also teach methods to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms and increase concentration, which results in more effective and efficient work and academic performance.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to have co-existing conditions, particularly mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Before starting treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing conditions. The treatment of co-existing conditions may require different types of medications and dosages compared to the medications prescribed to treat ADHD.
For example, a person who suffers from ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. Finding a medication that can treat 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's important to find a therapist with whom you have a good relationship, and who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's also important to schedule your initial sessions in a time when you're not distracted by family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults with ADHD often have many life challenges, including relationships and work problems. They also may experience frustration, blame and anger that have accumulated in their lives because of their symptoms. Numerous psychosocial therapies have been proven to aid their families and patients learn new skills, attitudes and ways of relating.
Psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals modify their thinking and behavior. It includes goal-setting, skills training and practice, as well as methods to help improve self-esteem and organization. It may be done in individual or group sessions. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms in adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson and colleagues., 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some individuals with ADHD also need counseling to deal with specific life challenges. This could include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulty managing failures and disappointments. Counseling can teach techniques to deal with these situations and increase the ability to communicate and solve problems. It can also enhance relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy as well as supportive group therapy. These therapies can assist families in coping and improve their skills to manage conflict and improve communication when dealing with children who have ADHD. It can also assist parents to understand the disorder and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their physicians and inform them of any other medications, including over the prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with specific medications or cause adverse reactions that are made worse by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is made it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure that he or she is receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing side effects. It is recommended to consult a patient for the initial medical monitoring within 30 days of beginning treatment, and then every month after that. This permits a thorough titration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, to a well-tolerated, effective dose. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's response and assists in avoiding the patient from being kept on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses on excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who do not respond adequately to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medication might be suggested. This is usually the case with the methylphenidate based atomoxetine alternatives.
Adults with ADHD are usually affected by comorbid disorders, such as depression or substance abuse. Additionally, they may suffer from chronic sleep disorders or medical issues like hearing and vision disorders. As part of the initial assessment for ADHD, it is important to identify these conditions and assess them. These conditions can have a significant impact on functional impairments in adults.
additional reading can also be controlled through marital therapy. Many spouses report that they are overwhelmed by the responsibilities to care for their spouses who have ADHD and can become angry and angry in the process. The way to reduce resentment is by enhancing the awareness of their condition, and helping them to realize that the symptoms aren't caused by an absence of love or willfulness. Couples who go through this type of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually advised. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus and control their an impulsive behaviour. It helps patients learn to manage their work, social and home environments more efficiently. Psychotherapy helps patients to understand how their condition impacts different areas of their life and relationships. This can help decrease the shame and low self-esteem that is often seen in people with ADHD who are thought of as lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders be akin to ADHD symptoms. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be assessed in order to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are related to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is usually recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is employed, the results are better than treatment on its own. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to track and measure functional improvements such as improved performance at work, school, and interpersonal relationships.