Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from adhd are treated through medication, therapy and support from family members. People can also participate in clinical trials to test new ways of treating ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. However, they must be constantly monitored. IamPsychiatry includes monthly appointments with a doctor, and frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medicines
Many medications can be used to treat the symptoms of ADHD among adults. These are known as psychostimulants. They work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will choose a medication that's right for you and will decide the most appropriate dosage and time to take it. It may take some time to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that control your symptoms.
The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults with ADHD is stimulants. These medicines increase the amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which improve your ability to focus and manage impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate-- and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants last around 6 hours, intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours, and long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants have less adverse effects than shorterand intermediate-acting medications, but they still can cause insomnia and changes in appetite.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine, (Strattera), are used to treat adults with ADHD in cases where stimulants don't work or cause unwanted side effects. These medicines do not affect the levels of dopamine or norepinephrine, but they increase your brain's availability of norepinephrine. They also improve your ability to concentrate. These medicines come in capsules and are taken either twice or three times every day.
Some adults with ADHD may also suffer from other psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and depression. These are called comorbid conditions and they can influence how you react to treatment for ADHD. Before beginning treatment for ADHD, it's important to address any comorbidities. Patients with a history of substance abuse disorder are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. Because of this, it is generally recommended to wait until the patient has stopped using substances before considering treatment with stimulants to treat ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves talking and discussing topics that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist offers guidance based upon his or her qualifications, experience, training and therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy can be short-term, (a few weeks or even months), addressing more immediate issues, or longer-term. The therapist and the patient determine the duration and frequency of treatment.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults with ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their abilities to organize their lives, manage their time and prioritizing; it can also teach methods for managing emotions such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and increase focus, leading to more efficient and successful academic and work.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have co-existing conditions, particularly mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Before starting treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing conditions. The treatment of co-existing disorders could require different types of medications and dosages compared to the ones that are used to treat ADHD.
A person suffering from ADHD may also be suffering from hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing instability to the hypertension of the patient, it is important to understand how various medications affect individuals in the course of time, as well as the interactions between the medications.
It's important to find a professional with whom you share a a good relationship, and who has experience in treating adults suffering from 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 often have many issues in their lives, including relationships and work issues. They may also feel anger, blame, and frustration that have built up in their lives due to their symptoms. Psychosocial therapies can help patients and their families to develop new abilities, attitudes and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. It includes goal-setting, skills training and practice, and teaching strategies to improve organization and self-esteem. This can be accomplished individually or in a group setting. Some studies have shown that treatment for metacognitive disorders can reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson et al, 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD also need counseling to address specific life issues. These challenges may include family conflicts, aggressive or impulsive behavior, and difficulties in dealing with failures and disappointments. Counseling can help you develop the strategies to help manage these situations and improve communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, especially in long-term marriages or other relationships.
Family therapy and supportive group therapy are also types of psychotherapy that can be utilized to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and improve their skills to manage conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child suffering from ADHD. It also helps parents learn about the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive outcomes for their children.
Adults with ADHD should discuss their medication regularly with their doctor and disclose any other medications, including over the counter drugs. Certain medications can cause adverse effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis is made, it is crucial that the patient be monitored to ensure he/she is getting the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing adverse effects. It is recommended to visit a patient for the initial medical monitoring within 30 days after starting treatment, and then every month after that. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this allows for a the gradual titration of an effective and well-tolerated dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patient's response and helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients taking insufficient doses (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses on excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or suffer from side effects that are intolerable may benefit from nonstimulant medications. This is usually the case with the methylphenidate based atomoxetine alternatives.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are often affected by comorbid conditions, such as depression or substance abuse. Moreover, they may have chronic sleep disturbances or medical problems such as hearing and vision disorders. It is crucial to identify and assess these conditions as part of the initial assessment for ADHD since these can have significant impact on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be treated through marital therapy. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the responsibilities of caring for their spouses suffering from ADHD, and can become angry or resentful as a consequence. increasing the awareness of the patient about the signs of their condition and helping them understand that these aren't willful acts or a lack of affection can help reduce marital tensions and resentment. Couples who go through this kind of therapy generally experience a better family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD Psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include a cognitive-behavioral component. Behavioral therapy can help patients improve their focus, organization skills and manage impulsive behavior. It teaches patients to manage their home, work and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy can also help patients understand how their condition affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the shame and low self-esteem that is often seen in adults with ADHD who are thought of as inept or unintelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by a variety of mental disorders. For instance anxiety disorders are found at a high rate in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found in greater numbers among those suffering from the disorder. The presence of other psychiatric issues should be analyzed according to the need, to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are related to them.
A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is generally recommended for treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been established that the combination of psychotherapy and medication yields better results than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will try to monitor and evaluate improvements in functional performance, for example, better functioning at school or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.