ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4 percent of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, addiction to drugs) and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medications are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. Stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine are the most commonly prescribed medications.
Medicines
Many adults with ADHD have seen significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning in response to medication. It is essential that those with ADHD find the combination of medications that works for them.
Stimulants, like methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the most frequently prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid form, and can be taken as frequently as every three to four hours. Some adults may supplement an immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medication that is taken daily to reduce the requirement for frequent doses throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be successfully treated with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of medications can be used on its own or in combination with stimulants to increase their effects. However, they can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, such as an increased heart rate, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated with alprazolam or clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 antagonists of the adrenergic system. 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. However, these medications could cause a very low blood pressure when they are abruptly stopped or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy helps them deal with feelings of embarrassment, shame, and resentment against coworkers, supervisors, teachers and family members who may criticize or nag them. Additionally counseling for families and marriages can help couples suffering from ADHD to understand each other's issues and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD seeks to improve everyday functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can help individuals who suffer from ADHD overcome their low self-esteem, and the feeling of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavior therapy, helps people change their negative thoughts and feelings that cause problems in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven effective in treating many conditions, including anxiety and depression. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
CBT can include group therapy. This is especially beneficial for adults with ADHD because it allows them to connect with other people who have similar struggles and learn how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or over the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to standard therapy for adults who have ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting indicators like symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
A number of studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults suffering from ADHD and have all shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect size. These improvements were attributed to a variety modalities including interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy and social skills training. problem-solving training, and mindfulness mediation.
However, caution is advised in comparing the efficacy of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that differences in outcomes results are due to a variety of factors, such as treatment characteristics and measures employed. A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a method that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while performing cognitive tasks to determine areas in the brain that there is too much or too little activity, and teaching the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can address these problems that may be contributing ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy approaches that can help improve the ability of a person to manage conflicts and create lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help manage self-destructive, impulsive, and negative behaviors that could create problems at school or work.
In some instances, psychotherapy is utilized as an adjunct to the medication used for adhd treatment for adults. People who have comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction to drugs should be evaluated with care to make sure they don't have symptoms that cannot be improved by the medications used to treat ADHD. Patients with certain medical conditions like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and seizures in the past, have to be treated more aggressively as they are at a higher risk of developing complications from the medications.
When ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be recommended. These programs offer an organized treatment that is more intense than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD improve their ability to manage time management, impulse control, planning, and executive function. It helps them recognize and express their feelings and utilizes worksheets and activities to make the lessons more interesting. Mindfulness meditation training improves CBT and improves the ability of a person to concentrate and regulate their emotions. It also increases a person's capacity to manage anxiety and stress. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger, and other difficult feelings that could be contributing to their ADHD.
resources suffering from ADHD often have difficulties functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting their work performance, these issues can interfere with relationships and may lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you improve your self-esteem and solve the underlying issues. It will also assist you in developing healthy ways of coping.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment is an effective treatment for adults suffering from ADHD, as it helps them to alter their negative beliefs and behaviours. It focuses on teaching time management techniques and overcoming thinking distortions which can lead to negative moods and the perception that there are only a few options.
Many adults with ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric disorders can reduce or increase the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended you treat the most severe comorbid disorder first and then monitor its response to medication prior to beginning treatment for the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can teach you ways to organize your life and work, establish routines that are predictable, manage money and time and develop an optimistic self-image. It can also help you learn ways to relax that could reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. Yoga and other exercises can help you focus by stabilizing your body in different poses.
Family and marriage counseling can help adults with ADHD to solve the problems they cause their children, spouses and other family members. They frequently complain of being unstable, unorganized, 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 help you and your family members realize that the issues are due to ADHD, rather than an inability to care or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a highly frequent neurobiological disorder. It is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. The use of medication and psychosocial interventions is available as treatment options. There are a variety of medications available to adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the drugs.
Adults with ADHD suffer from the same issues as children, but it can be difficult to recognize them since childhood symptoms may not persist throughout adulthood. Additionally, people with ADHD may not have a history of the disorder in their families or they may not even remember having symptoms. A thorough medical history is necessary to determine if the symptoms are due to an illness like thyroid problems or sleep apnea. It could also be due to hearing and vision problems or lead poisoning.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. The stimulants have the highest response rates for adults suffering from ADHD. Their responsiveness rates vary from 70 to 70% to 80%. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are among the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate may also be administered via a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery throughout the daytime.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take nonstimulant medications that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is one of the most studied tricyclic drug and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medication and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL another antidepressant, was shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which is effective in blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter which increases its accessibility to the brain. The drug has been proven to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults. However, it isn't as effective as stimulants when it comes to improving cognitive performance or concentration.