ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options

ADHD is a prevalent condition of the nervous system that affects 44 percent of the population. It is accompanied with a high rate of comorbidity, such as depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs, and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.

Both psychotherapy and medication are effective treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine are the most frequently prescribed medications.

Medicines

Many people who suffer from ADHD have seen significant improvements in their symptoms and functioning when they take medication. Due to the various ways that people react to medications, it is essential for those with ADHD to discover a combination that is most effective.

Adults with ADHD are prescribed stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. They are available in immediate-release (short-acting) tablet or liquid form, and can be taken as often as every three to four hours. Adults may supplement an immediate-release medicine with an extended release long-acting medicine at least once a week to reduce the requirement to take it frequently 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 used on its own or in conjunction with stimulants to enhance their effects. They may also increase the danger of serious side effects, such as rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists like alprazolam as well as clonidine are used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They have a calming effect and can help improve focus and reduce the amount of hyperactivity and impulsivity in some adults. These medications can result in very low blood pressure when they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced.

Adults with ADHD are also able to benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy can help them cope with feelings of shame and embarrassment regarding their ADHD, as well as resentment toward co-workers, supervisors teachers, family members and others who might be a source of criticism or nagging them. Family and marriage counseling can be a great option to help couples with ADHD to better understand each other and improve communication.

Behavioral Therapy

One of the main goals of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to impart strategies and skills that help improve functioning in daily life. Psychotherapy can also help people who suffer from ADHD to overcome the low self-esteem and feeling of failure that often accompanies this condition.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals change the negative thoughts that create difficulties in their lives and to learn new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. This short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It can be used in conjunction with other therapies or on its own.

CBT could involve group therapy, which can be particularly beneficial for people with ADHD because it gives the opportunity to meet others who are facing similar issues and discover how other people manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be delivered in person or over the phone. One study compared the results of CBT in comparison to traditional therapy for adults with ADHD and found that both treatments produced improvement in self-report measures of functioning, symptoms and quality of life.

Numerous studies have evaluated CBT with other psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD, and all show significant reductions in self-reported ADHD symptoms, with medium to large effect size. These improvements were associated with diverse modalities like cognitive and interpersonal therapy as well as social skills training, problem solving training, as well as mindfulness meditation.

It is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for adult ADHD with caution. It is likely that the variations in the outcomes depend on a variety of factors such as treatment characteristics, measures used and the background of the patient. A few studies have looked into the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a method that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to pinpoint areas in the brain that there is too much or too little activity. Then, teaching the individual to control these patterns.

Counseling

Many people who suffer from ADHD have anxiety or mood disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help with these issues, which could be contributing to the ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy approaches that can aid in improving a person’s ability to resolve conflicts and develop lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control self-destructive, impulsive and negative behaviors that can create problems at school or work.

In certain cases psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medications for adults adhd treatment. People who have comorbid conditions such as bipolar disorder and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to ensure that they do not have symptoms that cannot be improved by the medication that are prescribed to treat ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, must be treated with more vigor.

When ADHD is sufficient to cause problems with daily functioning and quality-of-life intensive outpatient programs might be suggested. These programs provide structured therapy that is more intense than conventional outpatient psychotherapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists adults suffering from ADHD enhance their ability to manage time and impulse control, as well as executive function, and planning. untreated adhd in adults depression helps them identify and express their emotions and employs worksheets and exercises to make the lessons more enjoyable. The training in mindfulness meditation can enhance CBT and improves the ability of a person's ability to concentrate and regulate emotions. It also improves a person's ability to tolerate anxiety and stress. It can help them deal with sadness, anger and other difficult emotions that may be contributing to their ADHD.

Occupational Therapy

Adults suffering from ADHD report difficulties functioning at work and at home. These issues can also impact relationships and cause financial problems. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you to improve your self-esteem and solve the underlying issues. It will also help you develop healthy ways of coping.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it teaches you how to change your negative beliefs and behavior. It concentrates on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions which contribute to negative moods, and the perception that there are only a few choices.

Many people with ADHD have depression or anxiety disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric illnesses may aggravate or reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs used to treat ADHD. Therefore it is recommended you treat the most severe comorbidity first and monitor the response to treatment prior to attempting treatment for the other disorder.


Occupational therapy can help you manage your work and life and establish routines that are predictable that help you control your time and money and create a positive image of yourself. symptoms of adhd in adults treatment can help you learn techniques for relaxation that can reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Yoga and other exercises can also help you focus by stabilizing your body in various poses.

Family and marriage counseling can help address the issues that adults suffering from ADHD often create for their spouses, children and others. They often complain about being unreliable, disorganized, forgetful and often prone to making impulsive choices. You can build stronger relationships by informing your spouses and family members about ADHD. Moreover, it can help you and your loved ones to understand that these issues are linked to the patient's ADHD instead of the lack of compassion or refusing to cooperate.

Clinical Trials

Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is very frequent. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity, including anxiety, depression and addiction disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medical interventions. There are a variety of medications available for adults suffering from ADHD and a few of these have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted both the advantages and drawbacks of the drugs.

Adults who suffer from ADHD have the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to diagnose them because childhood symptoms might not last throughout adulthood. Adults who suffer from ADHD may also not have any family history of the disorder or may not remember symptoms. It is essential to take an extensive medical history in order to determine if the symptoms are related to an illness like thyroid issues or sleep apnea, and vision issues.

Adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulants or nonstimulants. Stimulants are the most effective drugs to treat adults suffering from ADHD and their responsiveness rates are in the 70%-80 percent range. The most commonly used stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds. Methylphenidate can also be administered via a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery during the daytime.

Adults with ADHD are able to take nonstimulant medication that are based on norepinephrine, or dopamine. Desipramine, which is the most researched tricyclic, has been proven to be effective in adult ADHD patients. It is a low-dose medication that should be increased every seven days by 50mg until the desired effect is observed.

Bupropion XL is a different antidepressant, was shown to be effective in adults suffering from ADHD. It is a dopamine receptor agonist and blocks the reuptake process of norepinephrine by the presynaptic transporter, thereby increasing its use in the brain. The drug is known to improve the mood of adults and reduce hyperactivity, however, it's not as effective at improving concentration or cognitive function as stimulants.