ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects around 4,4% of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of co-morbidity (depression, 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 frequently prescribed drugs.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD have significant improvement in their symptoms and performance due to medications. Because of the different ways that people respond to medication, it is essential for those with ADHD to determine a mix that is effective.
Stimulants, including amphetamines and methylphenidate, are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms 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 used once per day to reduce the need for frequent dosing throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can be successfully treated with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of drugs can be used in conjunction with stimulants, or alone to enhance their effects. They may also increase the danger of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated with alprazolam or clonidine. They are both Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. These medications were initially created to treat hypertension. They have a calming affect and can improve focus, and reduce hyperactivity and impulse control in some adults. These medications can result in extremely low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is reduced.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy helps those with ADHD deal with feelings of embarrassment, shame, and resentment toward coworkers, teachers, supervisors and family members who might criticize or nag them. Marriage and family counseling is also a great way to help couples with ADHD better understand each other and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adult ADHD is to impart strategies and techniques that enhance performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help individuals with ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the feeling of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in changing the negative thoughts that create difficulties in their lives and to develop new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. This short-term, goal-oriented kind of psychotherapy has been proven to be effective for many disorders including anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatments.
CBT may also include group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD because it allows them to connect with others who are facing similar issues and discover how they deal with their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or over the phone. One study compared the results of CBT against conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and found that both treatments led to improvement in self-report measures of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
CBT has been studied in comparison to other psychosocial treatments in adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies show significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, with effect sizes between medium and large. These improvements were attributed to diverse approaches that include cognitive and interpersonal behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving exercises and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required in comparing the effectiveness of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is likely that the variations in the outcomes are due to a variety of variables such as treatment characteristics, measures employed and the background of the patient. There are few studies that have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback. This technique involves wearing a hat with electrodes while performing cognitive tasks in order to identify brain areas where there is excessive or insufficient activity. The individual then learns to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help to address these problems, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Certain psychotherapy strategies include interpersonal therapy to improve the capacity of individuals to establish meaningful relationships and to resolve conflicts. non medication treatment for adhd adults is designed to alter negative behaviors and help manage impulsive and self-destructive behaviors that can cause problems at work or school.
In certain cases, psychotherapy can be used in combination with medication for adults with adhd treatment. Patients suffering from multiple disorders like substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder need to be assessed to ensure their symptoms are not worsened by medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history of seizures, should be treated with more vigor.
If ADHD is serious enough to affect daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs could be suggested. These programs provide an organized treatment that is more intense than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults suffering from ADHD improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, organizing, and executive function. It teaches them to recognize and express emotions and utilizes activities and worksheets to make the learning interesting. Mindfulness meditation training enhances CBT and enhances a person's ability to focus and manage their emotions. It also improves a person's ability to tolerate the effects of stress and arousal. It helps them deal with sadness, anger and other emotions that may be contributing towards their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and may cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you increase self-esteem, address underlying problems and develop healthy coping strategies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be a beneficial treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps you modify your negative thoughts and behaviors. Particularly, it focuses on teaching you to utilize time management strategies and overcome mental distortions that lead to negative moods and a perception of limited choices.
Many adults with ADHD have anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can exacerbate or decrease the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended that you treat the most severe disorder comorbid to ADHD first and monitor the response to treatment before proceeding to treatment of the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can teach you how to manage your life and work, set up routines that are predictable, manage time and money and build an optimistic self-image. It can also help you learn ways to relax that could reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Similarly yoga and other forms of exercise can help you focus better by stabilizing your body in different postures.
Family and marriage counseling can address the issues adults suffering from ADHD often cause their spouses, children and others. They frequently complain that they are unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and prone to making impulsive decisions. Classes and therapy in which spouses and other family members are taught about ADHD can help you develop healthier relationships. It can help you and your family members to understand that the issues are caused by ADHD and not an inability to care or an unwillingness to cooperate.
signs of untreated adhd in adults is a common neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medical interventions. A variety of medications are available for adults suffering from ADHD and a few of them have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of the drugs.
Adults who suffer from ADHD might experience the same symptoms as children have, but it's difficult to determine because childhood symptoms might not persist in adulthood. Adults who suffer from ADHD might not have any family background of the disorder or may not be aware of symptoms. It is essential to take a thorough medical history in order to determine if the symptoms are caused by a medical condition, like thyroid issues such as sleep apnea, sleep apnea and vision issues.
Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. The stimulants have the highest response rates for adults with ADHD. Their response rates vary between 70 and 80%. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate is also administered through a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Nonstimulant medicines for adults suffering from ADHD are mostly tricyclic antidepressants that work on norepinephrine and dopamine. Desipramine, the most studied tricyclic, has been proven to work in adult ADHD patients. It is a low dose medication which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is seen.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant, was shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter which increases its accessibility to the brain. This drug has been shown to improve mood and decrease hyperactivity in adults, however it isn't as effective as stimulants when it comes to improving concentration or cognitive function.