ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known condition of the nervous system that affects 44% of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and addiction to drugs) and significant social, emotional, and occupational impairments.
Both medication and psychotherapy are effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most frequently prescribed drugs are stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Medicines
Many people with ADHD report significant improvements in their symptoms as well as functioning when they take medication. Due to the many different ways that people respond to medication, it is crucial for people with ADHD to find a combination that is most effective.
Adults suffering from ADHD are prescribed stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamines. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms and can be taken as often as every three to four hours. Adults can augment an immediate-release medication with an extended-release long-acting medication every week to decrease the necessity to take it frequently throughout the day.
Antidepressants like desipramine have also been found to be effective in the treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs can be used by itself or in combination with stimulants to enhance their effects. However, they can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects like an increased heart rate, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults with ADHD can also be treated using alprazolam and clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 antagonists of the adrenergic system. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and may improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in certain adults. These medications can result in very low blood pressure if they suddenly stop, or the dosage is decreased.
Adults suffering from ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual talk therapy can help them deal with their feelings of shame and embarrassment regarding their ADHD as well as anger towards supervisors, coworkers, teachers and family members who may nag or criticize them. In adhd treatment for young adults , marriage and family counseling can help couples with ADHD be able to recognize each other's challenges and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD seeks to improve everyday functioning by educating people on strategies and skills. Psychotherapy can help people who suffer from ADHD overcome their low self-esteem, and the sense of failure they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy assists people in changing their negative thoughts and emotions that are causing problems in their life. It teaches them new ways to think, feel and act. This short-term and goal-oriented therapy has been proven effective in treating various illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. It can be used by itself or in combination with other therapies.
CBT can involve group therapy, which can be particularly beneficial for people with ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to interact with other people who have similar struggles and to learn from others how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or over the phone. One study examined the effects of CBT in comparison to traditional therapy for adults with ADHD and found that both treatments produced improvement in self-report assessments of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life.
Several studies have compared CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults 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 approaches, including interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, problem-solving training, and mindfulness meditation.
However, caution is required when comparing the effectiveness of different therapies for adult ADHD. It is possible that the different outcomes of the treatments depend on a variety of factors, including treatment characteristics, measures used as well as the backgrounds of the patients. A few studies have examined the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a method that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to identify areas in the brain where there is too much or too little activity, and instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these issues that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy techniques which can improve the ability of a person to manage conflicts and create meaningful relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help people manage impulsive, self-destructive, and negative behaviors that could cause problems at school or work.
In some cases psychotherapy may be utilized in conjunction with medication for adults with adhd treatment. People with comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse should be evaluated with care to ensure that they do not have symptoms that are not improved by the medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and a history or seizures, need to be treated more aggressively.
Intensive outpatient programs might be suggested if the individual's ADHD is such that it interferes with their daily functioning and quality of life. These programs offer more thorough and organized treatment than traditional outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD improve their abilities to manage time management and impulse control, executive function, and planning. It helps them understand and express emotions, and it uses worksheets and activities to make the lessons engaging. The practice of mindfulness meditation improves CBT and enhances the capacity of a person to concentrate and regulate emotions. It also increases a person's capacity to manage anxiety and stress. It can assist them in dealing with anger, sadness and other difficult emotions that could be causing their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD experience difficulties at work and at home. In addition to affecting work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help boost your self-esteem, solve the root causes of your issues 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. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that contribute to negative moods, and the perception that there are only a few possibilities.
Many people with ADHD have anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or even increase the effectiveness of certain medications used to treat ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended that you first treat the most severe comorbidity and then observe its response to the medication before treating the other condition.
Occupational therapy can help you manage your life and work and establish routines that are predictable that help you manage your money and time and create an optimistic image of yourself. It will also help you learn relaxation techniques that could reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can help you improve your focus by ensuring your body is stable in different postures.
Family and marriage counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to solve the problems they create for their children, spouses and other family members. They frequently complain of being unstable, unorganized, forgetful and susceptible to making decisions based on impulsivity. You can build stronger relationships by teaching your spouses and other family members about ADHD. It can help you and your family members to understand that the issues are due to ADHD instead of an inability to care or a refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a prevalent neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by a high rate of comorbidity. This includes depression, anxiety and addiction disorders. The use of medication and psychosocial interventions is available as treatments. There are a variety of medication options for adults suffering from ADHD. Certain of these medications have been evaluated in trials. These studies have revealed the strengths and limitations of the drugs.
Adults with ADHD might experience the same symptoms as children have, but it's difficult to identify because the symptoms of childhood may not last into adulthood. Adults with ADHD might not have any family history of the disorder, or might not remember the symptoms. A thorough medical history is important to help determine whether the symptoms are caused by a medical condition such as a thyroid problem or sleep apnea, hearing and vision problems or lead poisoning.
Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and other non-stimulant medications. The stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their response rates vary from 70 to 80percent. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate is also administered via a transdermal system. This allows for continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Adults with ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most researched tricyclic and has been shown to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a medication with a low dose that is recommended to be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is observed.
Bupropion XL is a second antidepressant that has been proven to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine receptor agonist and works by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transporter, thereby increasing its presence in the brain. The drug is known to boost mood in adults and decrease hyperactivity, but it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive function as stimulants.