Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment of adhd in adults is based on therapy, medication and family support. Individuals can also take part in clinical trials that test new approaches to treating ADHD.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to benefit from stimulant drugs. However, they must be monitored regularly. This means monthly appointments with a doctor and regular examinations of symptoms.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they alter the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the appropriate medication for you and will decide on the most appropriate dosage and schedule. It could take some time to find the right medication and dosage that controls your symptoms.
Stimulants are typically the first prescribed medication by doctors for adults with ADHD. They increase the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and control impulses. They come in short-, intermediate-and long-acting versions. Short-acting stimulants can last for up to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting drugs last between 8 and 10 hours. Long-acting drugs can last up to 16. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause side effects than shorter- or intermediate-acting drugs, however they still can cause an increase in appetite and sleepiness.
Nonstimulant medications, like Atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause unpleasant adverse negative effects. These medications don't affect your norepinephrine or dopamine however, they can increase the brain's supply of norepinephrine. They also improve your concentration. These capsules are taken once or twice daily.
Some adults with ADHD have co-occurring disorders such as anxiety or depression. These are called comorbid conditions and they can impact how you react to treatment for ADHD. It is essential to treat any comorbidities prior to starting treatment for ADHD. For instance, those who have an history of using substances disorder are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. It is best to wait until a person has stopped using drugs before treating them with stimulants.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves talking and discussing topics that cause distress or anxiety to a person. The therapist gives advice in accordance with their qualifications, experience, training and the philosophy of therapy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or even months) or addressing more immediate issues, or long-term. The patient and therapist decide on the duration and frequency of therapy.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is an extremely effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help individuals 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, leading to more productive and effective academic and work.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely of co-existing conditions. This is especially true for mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Before beginning treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing conditions. The treatment of co-existing disorders might require different kinds of medications and dosages than the medications used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a patient with ADHD could also be suffering from hypertension. To choose a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension it is crucial to understand how various medications affect individuals over time and the interactions between medications.
It is important to choose the right therapist with whom you have a good relationship, and who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at a time when you won't be distracted by work or family obligations.
Counseling
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have many issues in their lives, including relationships and work problems. The person who has ADHD might also experience anger, frustration and blame that has been accumulated over time. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven effective in helping their families and patients learn new behaviors, skills, and ways of relating.
Psychotherapy can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals modify their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, as well as methods of teaching to increase self-esteem and organizational skills. It can be done in a private or in a group setting. Some studies have shown that metacognitive treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve performance in adults with ADHD (Stevenson and colleagues, 2002).
Some people suffering from ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain life issues. These may include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behavior, or difficulties coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help teach strategies to manage these situations, improve communication, and enhance problem-solving abilities. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term relationships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy as well as supportive group therapy. These can assist families to cope with the anxiety of having a child with ADHD, as well as teach skills to improve communication and reduce conflict. It can help parents understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive results in their children.
It is essential for people with ADHD to discuss their medications with their health care professionals regularly, and to disclose any other medications they're taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with certain medications or cause adverse reactions that are made worse by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough examination and diagnosis, it is important to monitor the patient's condition to ensure that he/she reaps the benefits of the medication and doesn't experience any adverse side adverse effects. It is recommended that patients be examined for a first clinical examination within 30 days of initiating treatment and then every month following that. For psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this allows for the gradual titration of an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This permits accurate recording of the patient's response and assists in avoiding having sensitive patients remain taking insufficient doses (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses on excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).
For adults who are not responding adequately to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medications might be suggested. This typically involves the use of the methylphenidate based atomoxetine alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually affected by comorbid disorders such as depression or substance abuse. Moreover, they may have chronic sleep disorders or medical issues such as hearing and vision disorders. It is important to screen and analyze these conditions as part of the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant impact on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be controlled through marital therapy. Many spouses report that they feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can become angry and angry in the process. The way to reduce resentment is by enhancing the patient's understanding of his/her condition, and helping them to understand that the symptoms aren't caused by an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who go through this kind of therapy usually experience improved family functioning.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually recommended. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their abilities to manage their time and focus and control their impulsive behavior. It helps patients manage their social, work and home life more efficiently. Psychotherapy also helps patients understand how their disorder affects different areas of their lives and relationships. This helps reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in people with ADHD. They might be viewed by others as lazy or inexperienced.
ADHD symptoms can be mimicked by a variety of psychiatric disorders. For instance, anxiety disorders occur at high rates in adults ADHD patients, and depression is found at increased levels in people suffering from the disorder. The presence of any other psychiatric problems should be evaluated according to the need, to determine whether or not the patient's ADHD symptoms are related to them.
A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is usually recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been demonstrated that when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is utilized the results are superior than the results of either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to track and evaluate the effects of functional improvement, like improved functioning in school or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.