ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4 percent of the general population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity (depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse) and significant emotional, social, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine are among the most frequently prescribed medications.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD have significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning as a result of medication. Due to the many different ways that people react to medications, it is important for individuals with ADHD to find a combination that is most effective.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants, such as amphetamines or methylphenidate. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms and can be taken as often as every three to four hours. Some adults may supplement an immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medicine taken once a day to reduce the requirement for frequent doses throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD can be successfully treated with antidepressants, such as desipramine. This class of drugs can be used on its own or in combination with stimulants to boost their effects. They can also increase the risk of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam and clonidine can also be used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming affect and may improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in some adults. However, these medications can cause a drop in blood pressure if they are abruptly cut off or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy is also useful for adults with ADHD. Individual talk therapy helps those with ADHD overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment against coworkers, teachers, supervisors, and family members that might criticize or nag them. In addition counseling for marriage and families can help couples with ADHD understand each other's problems and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD aims to improve daily functioning by teaching strategies and skills. Psychotherapy can help those who suffer from ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the feeling of inadequacy they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy assists people to change negative thoughts and emotions that are causing problems in their lives. It helps them learn new ways to think, feel and behave. This short-term, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy has been proven to be effective for a variety of disorders including anxiety and depression. It can be used by itself or in combination with other therapies.
CBT can include group therapy, which can be especially beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD as it offers the opportunity to interact with other people who are facing similar issues and discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. CBT can be provided in person or by phone. In one study, CBT was compared to standard therapy for adults who have ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting measures such as symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
Numerous studies have evaluated CBT with other psychosocial treatments for people with ADHD and all have shown significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms with medium to large effect sizes. These improvements were associated with diverse modalities like interpersonal and cognitive behavior therapy as well as social skills training, problem solving training, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required when comparing the effectiveness of various treatments for adult ADHD. It is likely that the different outcomes of the treatments depend on a variety of factors, including treatment characteristics, measures employed and the background of the patient. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a technique that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap when performing cognitive tasks to pinpoint areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity, and instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people who suffer from ADHD suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these issues, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is among the psychotherapy techniques that can help improve the ability of a person to resolve conflicts and develop lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behavior that can create difficulties at school or at work.
In certain situations psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medication for adults with adhd treatment. Patients with comorbid disorders such as substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder must be assessed to ensure that their symptoms are not worsened through the use of medications to treat ADHD. adhd treatment for adult women , such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history or seizures, should be treated with more vigor.
Intensive outpatient programs might be suggested if the individual's ADHD is so severe that it significantly hinders their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs offer more thorough and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD improve their abilities to manage time, impulse control, organizing, and executive function. It helps them understand and express their emotions and uses worksheets and activities to make the lessons more interesting. Meditation training that is mindful enhances CBT and improves the ability of people to concentrate and regulate their emotions. It enhances the capacity of a person to tolerate anxiety and stress. It can help them cope with sadness, anger and other difficult feelings which could be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. In adhd treatment for adult women to impacting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and can cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help boost your self-esteem, solve underlying problems and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps you change your negative beliefs and behaviors. It is focused on teaching time management techniques and overcoming thinking distortions which can lead to negative moods and the perception of a limited number of possibilities.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. These psychiatric conditions can decrease or even increase the effectiveness of some medications used to treat ADHD. It is therefore recommended to first treat the most severe comorbid condition and then monitor its reaction to the medication prior treating the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you organize your life and work, establish predictable routines to control your time and money, and develop an optimistic image of yourself. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that could reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other workouts can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing your body during various poses.
Family and marriage counseling can help adults with ADHD to solve the problems they cause their spouses, kids and other family members. They frequently complain of being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and often prone to making impulsive choices. You can strengthen your relationships by teaching your spouses and other family members about ADHD. Moreover it can help you and your loved ones understand that these problems are related to the patient's ADHD rather than a lack of caring or a willful refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder. It is often associated with other disorders that are comorbid, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medication interventions. There are many treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Some of these medications have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted both the strengths and the limitations of the drugs.
Adults suffering from ADHD suffer from the same issues as children, but it can be difficult to identify them since the symptoms of childhood may not persist until adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD may not have any family background of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. A thorough medical history is necessary to determine if the symptoms are due to medical conditions such as a thyroid problem or sleep apnea. It could also be due to vision and hearing problems or lead poisoning.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. Stimulants are the most effective medication for treating adults with ADHD and their responsiveness rates are in the 70%-80 percent range. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate can also be found as a transdermal solution, which permits continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic drug and has been proven to be effective in adult patients with ADHD. It is a low-dose medication which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is seen.
Bupropion XL, another antidepressant, was shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine-agonist which blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic cellular transporter, increasing its availability in brain. This drug is known to improve mood in adults and decrease hyperactivity, however it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.