Treatment of ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from adhd are treated by medication, therapy, and family support. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.
Stimulant medications are the most effective medications for adults suffering from ADHD. However, they must be monitored regularly. That includes monthly clinical appointments as well as frequent reviews of side effects and symptoms.
Medications
Many medications can be used to reduce the symptoms of ADHD among adults. These medications are called psychostimulants. iampsychiatry.uk function by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you and determine the best dose and schedule to take it. It may take a while to find the right dosage and medication that is able to control your symptoms.
Stimulants are typically the first prescription medication doctors recommend to adults suffering from ADHD. These medicines increase the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and manage impulses. They are available in short-, intermediate- and long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants last around 6 hours, intermediate-acting medicines last between 8 and 10 hours, while long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause side effects than intermediate- or shorter-acting medicines. However, they may induce sleepiness and a change in appetite.
Nonstimulant medicines, such as Atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adults with ADHD when stimulants aren't effective or cause undesirable side effects. These medications don't alter the levels of norepinephrine or dopamine, but they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain, and improve your ability to concentrate. These capsules are consumed once or two times a day.
Many people with ADHD also have other psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and they can impact how you respond to treatment for ADHD. Before beginning treatment for ADHD it is essential to address any comorbid issues. For instance, those who have an history of using substances disorder are more likely to use psychostimulants. For this reason, it's often advisable to wait until the person has quit using substances before considering treatment with stimulants for ADHD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is an interaction method of discussing and discussing things that can be troubling or troubling to someone. The therapist provides guidance based upon his or her education, experience, credentials, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with more immediate challenges, or long-term (months or years) in which a person is attempting to resolve more complicated and longstanding issues. The duration and frequency of treatment is decided by the patient and therapist together.
The combination of psychotherapy and medication is an extremely effective method to treat adults with 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. Medication can reduce symptoms, increase concentration and improve academic and work performance.
Adults with ADHD have a higher risk of co-existing conditions. This is especially relevant for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Before starting treatment for ADHD it is essential to treat any co-existing disorders. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different types and dosages of medication than that used to treat ADHD.
A person with ADHD may also suffer from hypertension. To select a medication to treat the ADHD symptoms without causing destabilization of the patient's hypertension, it is important to know how different medications affect individuals over time and the interactions between medications.
It's important that you locate a therapist who has experience treating adults with ADHD and with whom you are comfortable. It's also important to schedule your first few sessions during times when you aren't distracted by family obligations or work obligations.
Counseling
Adults suffering from ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, such as issues at work and with relationships. A person with ADHD may also experience anger, frustration and blame that have built up over time. Psychosocial therapies can help patients and their families to develop new attitudes, skills, and ways of relating.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that helps people change their behavior and thinking. It involves setting goals, training and the practice of skills, as well as methods of teaching to improve self-esteem and organization. This can be done individually or in a group. Metacognitive therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms in adults with ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson, et al., 2002).
Certain people with ADHD may also require counseling to help them overcome specific life challenges. This could include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulty managing failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop how to handle these situations, improve communication, and enhance problem-solving abilities. It can also improve interpersonal relationships, particularly in long-term marriages or other relationships.
Other types of psychotherapy for ADHD include family therapy and supportive group therapy. These therapies can help families cope and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child who has ADHD. It can help parents understand the disorder, and develop parenting techniques that encourage positive results in their children.
Adults suffering from ADHD must discuss their medication regularly with their doctors and inform them of any other medications, including over the prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with specific medications or cause side effects that are worsened by other medicines.
Medication Monitoring
After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is established, it is crucial that the patient is monitored to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing side effects. It is recommended that patients be examined for an initial medical check-up within 30 days of initiating treatment and then every month afterward. This will allow for an accurate adjustment of psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines to a safe, effective dose. This allows for accurate registration of the patients' response and helps avoid keeping patients who are sensitive to doses that are too low.
For adults who are unable to respond effectively to stimulant medications or have intolerable side effects the use of nonstimulant medications may be indicated. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine or other related methylphenidate alternatives.
Adults with ADHD frequently suffer from co-occurring disorders such as mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse issues or depression. Additionally, they may suffer from chronic sleep disorders or medical issues such as vision and hearing disorders. As part of the initial evaluation for ADHD, it is important to detect such conditions and evaluate their severity. These conditions could have a significant impact on functional impairments in adults.
Marital therapy can also be beneficial in managing ADHD. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the responsibilities of caring for their spouses with ADHD, and can become angry or resentful as a consequence. Reducing resentment can be achieved by enhancing the patient's understanding of the condition, and helping them understand that the symptoms aren't caused by a lack in love or willfulness. Couples who go through this kind of therapy tend to be more functional as a family.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually recommended. It should include a behavioral and cognitive component. Behavioral therapy can help patients improve their organization skills, focus and control their impulsive behaviors. It teaches patients to manage their home, work and social settings more effectively. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their condition affects different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are often felt by people suffering from ADHD. They could be perceived by others as lazy or inexperienced.
Many psychiatric disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms. Adult ADHD patients are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety. The presence of other psychiatric issues should be analyzed in order to determine if the patient's ADHD symptoms are connected to them.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It has been established that the combination of psychotherapy with medication yields better results than either treatment alone. Future controlled medication studies will attempt to measure and assess the effects of functional improvement, like improvement in school performance as well as in the workplace and interpersonal relations.