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Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Treatment for adhd in adults is based on therapy, medication and family support. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.
Adults with ADHD are most likely to benefit from stimulant drugs. However, they must be monitored regularly. This includes regular appointments with a physician and frequent reviews of symptoms.
Medicines
There are many drugs that can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are known as psychostimulants and they affect the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that pass messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the best medication for you and determine the most effective dose and time to take it. It may take some time to determine the appropriate dosage and medication to control your symptoms.
The first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine in your brain, and also norepinephrine which allows you to manage your thoughts and focus. These medications are available in short-, medium-and long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last for 6 hours. Intermediate-acting medications last 8-10 hours. Long-acting stimulants last from 8 to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely cause adverse reactions than shorter- or intermediate-acting medicines. However, they may induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera), can be used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause unpleasant side consequences. These medicines don't affect your dopamine or norepinephrine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and improve your ability to focus. These capsules are taken once or two times a day.
Certain adults who suffer from ADHD suffer from co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities, and they can affect your response to ADHD treatment. It is important to address any comorbid conditions before starting treatment for ADHD. People who have a history of addiction to drugs 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 discussing and talking about topics that cause distress or anxiety to the person. The therapist listens and provides guidance based on his or her education, training and experience professional credentials and therapeutic philosophies. Psychotherapy can be short-term, (a few weeks or months), addressing more immediate issues, or more long-term. The patient and therapist determine the length and frequency of therapy.
The use of psychotherapy and drugs together is an extremely effective treatment option for adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can assist people improve their time management, organizational skills and prioritizing. It can also teach techniques to manage emotions, such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms, improve focus and lead to better work and academic performance.
Adults suffering from ADHD have a higher likelihood of co-existing illnesses. This is especially relevant for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It is important that any co-existing condition be addressed prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders may require different types and doses of medication than the ones used to treat ADHD.
For instance, a patient with ADHD might also be suffering from hypertension. Finding a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms but does not destabilize the patient's hypertension which is being controlled requires knowledge of how various medications affect individuals over time and an understanding of the interactions between various medications.
It's crucial to choose a therapist with had experience working with adults suffering from ADHD and with whom you feel at ease. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at times when you will not be distracted by family or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults suffering from ADHD often face many life challenges, including work and relationship problems. The person who has ADHD might also experience anger, frustration and blame that have been accumulated over time. A variety of psychosocial treatments have been proven to aid them and their families learn new skills, attitudes and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type psychotherapy that assists people in changing their behavior and thinking. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods of teaching to improve organization and self-esteem. This can be accomplished individually or in a group. A few studies have proven that the use of metacognitive therapy can reduce symptoms and improve performance for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors, 2002).
In addition to psychotherapy, some people with ADHD require counseling to address specific challenges. These may include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, or difficulty coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can teach the strategies to manage these situations, improve communication, and enhance problem-solving abilities. It can also improve relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy and supportive group therapy. These can help families deal with the anxiety of having a child with ADHD and help improve communication and reduce conflicts. It can help parents understand the disorder and develop parenting methods that encourage positive results in their children.
It is important for people suffering from ADHD to discuss their medications with their healthcare providers regularly, and to inform them of all other medications they are taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Certain medications can trigger side effects or interact with other medications.
Medication Monitoring
After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is made it is essential that the patient be monitored to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing side effects. It is recommended to visit patients for initial clinical assessment within 30 days after starting treatment and every month following that. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines) this enables the gradual titration of an effective and well-tolerated dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patients' response and helps to avoid keeping a patients who are sensitive to doses that are too low.
For adults who do not respond effectively to stimulant medications or experience uncontrollable side effects the use of non-stimulant drugs might be suggested. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine or other methylphenidate-related alternatives.
Adults suffering from ADHD are frequently affected by comorbid disorders, such as depression or substance abuse. In IamPsychiatry , they may experience chronic sleep disturbances or medical issues like hearing and vision disorders. It is important to screen and assess these conditions as part of the initial assessment for ADHD since these can have significant effects on functional impairment in adults.
ADHD can also be managed through marital therapy. spouses feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses suffering from ADHD, and can become resentful or angry due to this. Reduced resentment can be achieved by enhancing the understanding of his/her condition, and helping them to understand that the symptoms are not due to an absence of willfulness or love. Couples who go through this type of therapy are more likely to be more functional as a family.
Behavioral Therapy
For adults with ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should incorporate the cognitive-behavioral aspect. Behavioral therapy can help patients to improve their organizational skills and focus, as well as control the impulsive behavior. It helps patients learn to manage their social, work, and home situations more effectively. Psychotherapy can also help patients understand how their disorder affects various aspects of their lives and relationships. This can help reduce the feelings of shame and low self-esteem that is commonly seen in those with ADHD who are considered lazy or insufficiently intelligent.
ADHD symptoms can be mirrored by many mental disorders. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The presence of other mental health problems should be evaluated in order to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are linked to them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with a combination of pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. It has been demonstrated that the combination of psychotherapy with medication produces superior results over either treatment by itself. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to monitor and evaluate the effects of functional improvement, like improvement in school performance or at work, as well as interpersonal relations.