20 Trailblazers Lead The Way In ADHD In Adults Treatment
ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options
ADHD is a well-known condition of the nervous system that affects 4,4% of the population. It is associated with high rates of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression and substance abuse and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. Stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine are the most frequently prescribed drugs.
Medications
Many adults with ADHD report significant improvements in their symptoms as well as functioning when they take medication. Due to the various ways that people react to medications, it is important for individuals with ADHD to find a combination that is most effective.
Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamines. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid forms and can be taken as frequently as every three to four hours. Adults may supplement an immediate-release medicine with an extended release long-acting medication every week to lessen the requirement to take it regularly throughout the day.
Antidepressants such as desipramine have also been found to be effective in treatment of adults suffering from ADHD. This class of drugs can be utilized together with stimulants or on their own to boost their effects. However, they may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects such as a rapid heartbeat, EKG changes, and orthostatic hypotension.
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists like alprazolam and clonidine are also utilized to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These medications, originally designed to treat high blood pressure, have a calming effect and can increase focus and reduce the amount of impulsivity and hyperactivity in some adults. However, these medications can cause a drop in blood pressure if they are suddenly cut off or reduced in dosage.
Psychotherapy is also beneficial for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy helps people deal with feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment towards co-workers and teachers, supervisors, and family members that may criticize or nag them. In addition counseling for families and marriages can help couples with ADHD understand each other's problems and improve communication.
Behavioral Therapy
Psychosocial therapy for adults suffering from ADHD is designed to improve daily functioning by teaching strategies and skills. Psychotherapy can help individuals who suffer from ADHD overcome their self-esteem problems and the sense of failure they often feel.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also known as cognitive behavioral therapy assists people in changing their negative thoughts and feelings that cause problems in their lives. It teaches them new ways to think, feel and act. This short-term, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for a variety of disorders such as anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatments.
first line treatment for adhd in adults can also incorporate group therapy. This is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD because it enables them to connect with other people who face similar challenges and discover how they deal with their ADHD symptoms. It can be offered in person or by 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.
Numerous studies have evaluated 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 various modalities, including interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, social skill training, problem-solving exercises and mindfulness meditation.
It is important to compare the efficacy between different treatment options for adults with ADHD with caution. It is likely that differences in the outcomes result from a variety of factors, such as treatment characteristics and measures employed. A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a technique that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while performing cognitive tasks to determine areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity, and instructing the individual to control these patterns.
Counseling
Many people with ADHD have anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these issues, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy methods which can improve a person’s ability to resolve conflicts and develop lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to alter negative behaviors and assist in reducing impulsive and self-destructive behaviors that can cause problems at work or school.
In some cases psychotherapy can be used as an adjunct to medication for adult ADHD treatment for adults. People with multiple disorders like depression, substance abuse and bipolar disorder should be evaluated to ensure that their symptoms aren't made worse by medications used to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, like thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, need to be treated more aggressively.
If ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with the quality of life and daily functioning intensive outpatient programs could be recommended. These programs offer structured therapy that is more intense than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of cognitive therapy, helps adults with ADHD to improve their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as planning and executive functioning. It helps them understand and express feelings and utilizes activities and worksheets to make the lessons interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation improves CBT and enhances the capacity of a person's ability to concentrate and manage emotions. It increases the capacity of a person to tolerate stress and arousal. It helps them deal with anger, sadness and other difficult emotions that may be contributing to their ADHD.
Occupational Therapy
Adults with ADHD have issues functioning at work and at home. In addition to affecting their work performance, these symptoms interfere with relationships and could cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues will help you build confidence in yourself and address the root of the issue. It will also help you develop healthy coping methods.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be a beneficial treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps you modify your negative beliefs and behavior. It is focused on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that can cause negative moods, and the perception of limited possibilities.
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric conditions can cause or diminish the effectiveness of some drugs used to treat ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended that you treat the most severe comorbidity first and monitor its response to medication prior to attempting treatment for the other disorder.
Occupational therapy can help you manage your life and work by establishing predictable routines to manage your time and money and create an optimistic image of yourself. It can help you master relaxation methods that may reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other exercises can help you improve concentration by stabilizing your body during different poses.
Counseling for families and marriage can help adults with ADHD to solve the problems they create for their children, spouses and others. They frequently complain of being unstable, unorganized, forgetful and often prone to making impulsive choices. Therapy and classes in which spouses and other family members are educated about ADHD can help you establish healthier relationships. Moreover it can aid you and your loved ones realize that these issues are due to the patient's ADHD rather than the lack of compassion or refusing to cooperate.
Clinical Trials
Adult ADHD is a neurobiological disorder which is very prevalent. It is often accompanied by co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression and abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medication interventions. There are a range of medication options for adults suffering from ADHD. Some of these medications have been tested in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted the strengths and drawbacks of the drugs.
Adults with ADHD experience the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to identify them since childhood symptoms may not persist into adulthood. Adults suffering from ADHD may not have a family background of the disorder or may not be aware of symptoms. A thorough medical history is necessary to determine if the symptoms are due to a medical condition such as thyroid issues or sleep apnea, issues with vision and hearing or lead poisoning.
Adults with ADHD are treated with stimulants or non-stimulants. Stimulants are the most effective medications for treating adults with ADHD, and their responsiveness rates are in the 70%-80 percent range. Amphetamine as well as methylphenidate are the most frequently prescribed stimulants. Methylphenidate is also available in a transdermal system, which allows for a continuous medication delivery throughout the day.
Adults suffering from ADHD can take non-stimulant drugs that act on norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is the most studied tricyclic drug and has been proven to be effective in adult patients suffering from ADHD. It is a medication with a low dose which should be increased each seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is seen.
Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant which has been proven to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist that is able to block the reuptake process of norepinephrine by the presynaptic transportation system, thus increasing its presence in the brain. The drug has been proven to improve mood and reduce hyperactivity in adults, however it isn't as effective as stimulants when it comes to improving concentration or cognitive function.