ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4% of the general population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, and significant social, emotional and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most frequently prescribed medications are stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD notice significant improvements in their symptoms and functioning when they take medication. It is crucial that people with ADHD find the combination of medications that works for them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are prescribed stimulants, such as methylphenidate or amphetamines. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms and can be taken as often as every three to four hours. Adults can supplement their immediate-release medication with an extended-release long-acting medicine at least every week to lessen the requirement to take it regularly throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD can also be successfully treated with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of drugs can be used on its own or in combination with stimulants to increase their effects. They can also increase the risk of serious adverse effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam as well as clonidine are used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These medications, originally developed to treat high blood pressure, have the ability to calm and increase focus and reduce the level of hyperactivity and impulsivity among certain adults. However, these drugs can result in a drop in blood pressure if they are suddenly removed or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy can also be beneficial for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy helps those with ADHD deal with feelings of shame, embarrassment and resentment towards co-workers and teachers, supervisors, and family members that might nitpick or criticize them. Additionally, marriage and family counseling can help couples suffering from ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
A key goal of psychosocial therapy for adults ADHD is to teach strategies and skills that help improve performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help individuals with ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the feeling of inadequacy they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that cause problems in their lives. It also helps to learn new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. This short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy has proven to be effective in treating a variety of illnesses, including depression and anxiety. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
CBT could include group therapy, which can be especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD because it gives the chance to connect with others who have similar struggles and to learn how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or over the phone. One study examined the effects of CBT in comparison to traditional therapy for adults with ADHD and found that both treatments produced improvement in self-report measures of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
CBT has been studied in comparison to other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms with effects ranging from medium to large. These improvements were attributed to a variety of modalities that include cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving and mindfulness meditation.
It is essential to assess the effectiveness of various treatments for adults with ADHD with caution. It is likely that the different outcomes of the treatments reflect a number of variables such as treatment characteristics, measures used as well as the backgrounds of the patients. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This technique involves wearing an electrode-lined hat while performing cognitive tasks to pinpoint brain areas in which there is excessive or inadequate activity. The person is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD have anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these problems, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy methods include interpersonal therapy to improve a person's ability to build meaningful relationships and resolve conflicts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control self-destructive, impulsive and negative behaviors that could create problems at work or school.
In some cases, psychotherapy can be used in conjunction with medications for adults with adhd treatment. People who have comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction to drugs need to be evaluated carefully to ensure that they do not suffer from symptoms that aren't ameliorated by the medications used to treat ADHD. People with certain medical issues such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and an history of seizures have to be treated with more vigor because they are at a higher risk of developing complications from the medications.
When ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with everyday functioning and quality of life intensive outpatient programs could be suggested. These programs provide an organized treatment that is more intensive than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a form of cognitive therapy, helps adults suffering from ADHD to improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as planning and executive functioning. It helps them understand and express feelings and uses exercises and worksheets to make the learning interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation enhances CBT and enhances the capacity of a person to focus and manage emotions. It enhances the capacity of a person's ability to handle the effects of stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness, and other emotions that could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting their work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and could lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you improve your self-esteem, resolve the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment is an effective treatment for adults with ADHD because it helps them change their negative beliefs and behaviors. It concentrates on teaching time management techniques and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that contribute to negative moods, and the perception of limited choices.
Many people with ADHD have depression or anxiety disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric conditions can decrease or exacerbate the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbid disorder first and monitor the effect of medication prior to beginning treatment for the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you learn how to manage your life and your work, establish routines that are predictable, manage time and money, and create a positive self-image. It can help you learn relaxation methods that may reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. Similarly, yoga and other exercise can help you focus better by stabilizing the body in different postures.
Counseling for families and marriage can help adults with ADHD to resolve the issues they cause their children, spouses and friends. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and susceptible to making decisions based on impulsivity. You can strengthen your relationships by informing your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can aid you and your family members to understand that the issues are due to ADHD and not the lack of care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that is very frequent. It is often associated with other disorders that are comorbid, such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. The use of medication and psychosocial interventions is available as treatment options. There are a range of medication options for adults suffering from ADHD. Some of these medications have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and drawbacks of the various medications.
Adults with ADHD may experience the same symptoms as children do, but it can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of childhood may not persist in adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD may not have a family background of the disorder or might not remember the symptoms. A thorough medical history is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by medical conditions like thyroid problems or sleep apnea. adhd symptoms in adults treatment could also be due to issues with vision and hearing or lead poisoning.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants have the highest response rates for adults suffering from ADHD. Their response rates range from 70 to 80percent. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are among the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate may also be administered through a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery during the day.
Nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants which work on norepinephrine and dopamine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medication that should be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is noticed.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, has been shown to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist and works by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic transportation system, thus increasing its use in the brain. The drug is known to improve mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, but it's not as effective at improving cognitive function or concentration as stimulants.