Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults suffering from adhd are treated by therapy, medication and support from the family. Clinical trials are available to test the effectiveness of new treatments for ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant drugs. However, they must be closely monitored. That includes monthly clinical appointments, and frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
There are many medications that can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are referred to as psychostimulants. they affect 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 could take some time to find the right dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are usually the first prescribed medication by doctors for adults suffering from ADHD. They increase the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and control impulses. The medications are available in short-, medium-- and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants last for about 6 hours, intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have fewer side effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines, but they can still cause an increase in appetite and sleepiness.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as atomoxetine (Strattera) can be used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants don't work or cause unpleasant adverse side consequences. These medications don't alter your norepinephrine or dopamine levels, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain and increase your ability to concentrate. These medications are in capsule form and are taken once or twice every day.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and can affect the way you respond to treatment for ADHD. It is essential to treat any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have an addiction history to drugs or disorder are more likely to abuse psychostimulants. It's best to wait until a person has quit using drugs before treating them with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is an interaction process of talking and discussing issues that may be disturbing or troubling to a person. The therapist listens and offers advice based on his or her training, education and experience professional credentials and therapeutic philosophies. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) or addressing more immediate issues, or longer-term. The duration and frequency of treatment is decided by the therapist and patient together.
The use of psychotherapy and medications together is a highly effective treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies to manage emotions like anger and frustration. Medication can reduce symptoms and improve focus, which leads to more productive and effective academic and work.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to be affected by co-existing disorders, including mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is important that any co-existing conditions be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different forms and dosages of medication than the ones used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also suffer from hypertension. To select a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without destabilizing the patient's hypertension, it is important to understand how various medications affect individuals in the course of time, as well as the interactions between medications.
It's important to find the right professional with whom you share a a good relationship, and who has experience treating adults with ADHD. It is crucial to schedule your first few sessions at a time that you aren't distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD have many difficulties in their lives, including difficulties at work and in relationships. They may also feel anger, blame, and frustration that have built up in their lives because of their symptoms. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven to aid their families and patients learn new skills, attitudes and ways of connecting.
Psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that aids individuals to change their behavior and thinking. It includes goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods of teaching to increase self-esteem and organizational skills. It can be carried out in individual or group sessions. A few studies have proven that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve performance for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson et al, 2002).
Some people with ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain issues in their lives. These difficulties could include family conflicts, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, or difficulty in dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop skills to manage these situations, improve communication, and improve problem-solving skills. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Family therapy and support groups therapy are two other types of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These can help families cope with the anxiety of having a child who has ADHD, as well as teach skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It can help parents understand the condition and develop parenting methods that encourage positive results in their children.
It is important for people with ADHD to discuss their medication with their health care professionals regularly, and to disclose all other medications they're taking, including over-the-counter drugs. treatment of adhd in adults can cause adverse reactions or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is made it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure that he or she is receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing any adverse side effects. It is recommended to consult the patient for the initial medical monitoring within 30 days of starting treatment and every month following that. This allows for the proper titration of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines to a safe, effective dose. This permits accurate recording of the patient's reaction and helps avoid keeping sensitive patient on insufficient doses.
For adults who are not responding effectively to stimulant medications or have intolerable side effects the use of nonstimulant medications could be recommended. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine, or other alternatives to methylphenidate.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have comorbid disorders like mood disorder or anxiety disorder, substance abuse problems or depression. In addition, they may experience chronic sleep disorders or medical problems such as hearing and vision disorders. It is essential to identify and evaluate such conditions in the initial assessment for ADHD because they can have a significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be managed through marital therapy. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking duties of their spouses suffering from ADHD, and can become resentful or angry in response. Reducing resentment can be achieved by enhancing the patient's understanding of his/her illness, and helping them to understand that the symptoms aren't due to an absence of affection or willfulness. Couples who go through this kind of therapy typically experience better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For people who suffer from ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include an element of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy assists patients in learning to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus and control their an impulsive behaviour. It helps patients manage their work, home and social interactions in more productive ways. Psychotherapy also helps patients understand how their condition affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help decrease the shame and low self-esteem that are often experienced by those with ADHD, who may be thought of as lazy or less intelligent.
Many psychiatric disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms. For example, anxiety disorders occur at high rates in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found at increased levels in adults with the disorder. The presence of other psychiatric issues should be analyzed, as appropriate, to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is usually recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been shown that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is utilized, the results are better than the results of either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies should attempt to measure and track functional improvements such as improved performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships.