ADHD In Adults Treatment: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder that affects 4.4 percent of the general population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity (depression, anxiety, addiction to drugs) and significant social, emotional, and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Medications
Many people who suffer from ADHD report significant improvements in their symptoms and functioning in response to medication. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD find the combination of medications that is effective for them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as amphetamines or methylphenidate. These stimulants are available as liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hour. Some adults may supplement an immediate-release dose with an extended-release or long-acting medicine that is taken daily to reduce the need for frequent dosing throughout the day.
Desipramine and other antidepressants have also been found to be effective in the treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs can be used alone or in conjunction with stimulants to boost their effects. However, they could increase the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects like an increased heart rate, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Adults suffering from ADHD can also be treated using alprazolam or clonidine, which are both Alpha-2 antagonists of the adrenergic system. These medications were originally developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can improve focus, and reduce hyperactivity and impulse control in some adults. However, these drugs can cause a very low blood pressure when they are abruptly cut off or reduced in dosage.
Adults suffering from ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy helps them deal with feelings of shame, embarrassment and resentment towards co-workers and teachers, supervisors, and family members that might nitpick or criticize them. Counseling for families and marriage can be a great option to help couples with ADHD better understand each other and improve their communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD is designed to improve daily functioning by teaching skills and strategies. Psychotherapy can help those with ADHD overcome their self-esteem issues and the sense of failure they feel frequently.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in changing the negative thoughts that cause difficulties in their lives and to learn new ways of thinking, feeling and doing. This short-term, goal-oriented kind of psychotherapy has been found to be effective in treating a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression. It can be used in conjunction with other therapies or alone.
CBT may involve group therapy, which is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD, as it provides the opportunity to interact with other people with similar challenges and to learn how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or over the phone. In one study, CBT was compared to conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD. Both treatments helped improve self-reporting indicators like symptoms, functioning and quality of life.
CBT has been compared to other psychosocial treatments in adults suffering from ADHD. All of these studies demonstrate significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from medium to large. These improvements were associated with various modalities, including cognitive and interpersonal therapy, social skills training, problem solving training, and mindfulness mediation.
It is essential to assess the effectiveness of various treatments for adult ADHD with caution. It is likely that differences in outcome results depend on a variety of factors that include the characteristics of the treatment, the measures used, and patient backgrounds. Few studies have examined the effectiveness neurofeedback. This technique involves wearing a hat with electrodes while doing cognitive tasks to identify brain areas where there is excessive or inadequate activity. The individual is then taught to regulate these patterns.
Counseling
Many people suffering from ADHD have anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these issues that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy methods that can aid in improving the ability of a person to manage conflicts and create meaningful relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control self-destructive, impulsive, and negative behaviors that could cause problems at school or work.
In some instances psychotherapy can be used as an adjunct to the medication used for ADHD treatment for adults. Patients with co-occurring disorders like substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder should be assessed to ensure their symptoms are not worsened through the use of medications to treat ADHD. People who suffer from certain medical issues such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning, and an history of seizures must be treated more aggressively as they are at a higher risk for complications from the medications.
When ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with daily functioning and quality-of-life, intensive outpatient programs may be recommended. These programs offer more intensive and controlled treatment than standard outpatient therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD improve their ability to manage their time and impulse control, as well as executive function, and planning. It helps them recognize and express feelings and uses exercises and worksheets to make the lessons interesting. The practice of mindfulness meditation improves CBT and improves the ability of a person's ability to concentrate and regulate emotions. It improves the ability of a person's ability to handle the effects of stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness and other difficult emotions that could be causing their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults suffering from ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. These issues can also impact relationships and lead to financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help increase self-esteem, address the root causes of your issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a great treatment for adults with ADHD because it helps you change your negative thoughts and behaviors. In particular, it concentrates on teaching you to use strategies for managing time and overcoming the distortions in your thinking that cause negative moods and the perception of a limited range of choices.
Many people with ADHD have depression or anxiety disorders that are comorbid. These psychiatric disorders can diminish or even increase the effectiveness of certain medications that are used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbidity first and monitor its response to medication before proceeding to treatment of the other condition.
Occupational therapy can teach you ways to organize your life and work, establish routines that are predictable, manage time and money, and create an optimistic self-image. It can also help you learn relaxation techniques that could reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the same way yoga and other forms of exercise can aid in improving your focus by stabilizing your body in various poses.
Counseling for families and marriage can address the problems that adults with ADHD frequently cause their children, spouses, and other family members. They frequently complain that they are unstable, unorganized, forgetful and susceptible to making decisions based on impulsivity. You can strengthen your relationships by informing your spouses and family members about ADHD. It can aid you and your family members understand that the problems are caused by ADHD and not the lack of care or a refusal to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a common neurobiological disorder. It is accompanied by a high rate of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression and addiction disorders. The use of medication and psychosocial interventions is available as treatment options. There are a range of medication options for adults suffering from ADHD. Some of these medications have been tested in studies. These studies have exposed the advantages and drawbacks of the drugs.
Adults who suffer from ADHD may experience the same symptoms as children have, but it's difficult to determine because the symptoms of childhood may not last into adulthood. In addition, adults with ADHD might not have a family history of the disorder in their family or may not be aware of experiencing symptoms. It is important to have an extensive medical history to determine whether the symptoms are caused by a medical condition, such as thyroid problems or sleep apnea, and vision issues.
Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or nonstimulants. Stimulants have the highest response rates for people suffering from ADHD. Their response rates vary from 70% to 80percent. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are among the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate can also be administered through a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery throughout the daytime.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take nonstimulant medications that are based on norepinephrine, or dopamine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic drug and has been proven to be effective in adult patients with ADHD. It is a low dose medicine and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every seven days until the desired response is observed.
Bupropion XL is another antidepressant that has been shown to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine at the presynaptic transportation system, thus increasing its use in the brain. signs of untreated adhd in adults is known to boost mood in adults and decrease hyperactivity, however, it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive functions as stimulants.