ADHD in Adults - Treatment Options

ADHD is a prevalent condition of the nervous system that affects 44% of the population. It is accompanied by high rates of comorbidity (depression anxiety, anxiety, and addiction to drugs) and significant emotional, social and occupational impairments.

Medications and psychotherapy are both effective treatments for adults with ADHD. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine are among the most frequently prescribed medications.

Medications

Many people with ADHD report significant improvement in their symptoms and functioning in response to medications. Due to the various ways that people react to medications, it is important for individuals with ADHD to discover a combination that is most effective.

symptoms of adhd in adults treatment Links to an external site. , like methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the most commonly prescribed drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. These stimulants are available in liquid or tablet form in an immediate-release (short acting) formulation. They can be taken every three to four hour. Adults may supplement an immediate-release medicine with an extended release, long-acting medicine once a week to reduce the need to take it often 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 combination with stimulants to enhance their effects. They can also increase the risk of serious adverse consequences, like rapid heartbeats, EKG changes and orthostatic hypotension.


Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as alprazolam as well as clonidine are utilized to treat people suffering from ADHD. These drugs were initially developed to treat hypertension. They are calming and can help improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and impulseivity in certain adults. These medications can lead to extremely low blood pressure if they are abruptly stopped or the dosage is decreased.

Adults with ADHD may also benefit from psychotherapy. Individual therapy can help people to overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and resentment towards co-workers and teachers, supervisors, and family members that might criticize or nag them. Marriage and family counseling is also a great way to help couples suffering from ADHD to better understand each other and improve communication.

Behavioral Therapy

The primary goal of psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD is to teach skills and strategies that improve performance in everyday life. Psychotherapy can also aid those who suffer from ADHD overcome low self-esteem and sense of failure that often accompanies this condition.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change the negative thoughts that create problems in their lives. It also helps to develop new ways of thinking and feeling, as well as acting. This short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy has been proven to be effective for a variety of conditions such as anxiety and depression. It can be used on its own or in combination with other treatments.

CBT may also include group therapy. This is especially beneficial for those suffering from ADHD because it allows them to connect with other people who have similar struggles and learn how they manage their ADHD symptoms. It can be provided in person or over the phone. One study examined the effects of CBT against conventional therapy for adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that both treatments resulted in improvement in self-report measures of symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.

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

However, caution is required when comparing the effectiveness of different treatments for adults with ADHD. It is likely that differences in the results of treatment are due to a range of factors, such as treatment characteristics and the measures employed. A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback, a technique that involves wearing an electrode-lined cap while doing cognitive tasks to pinpoint areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity. Then, teaching the individual to control these patterns.

Counseling

Many people with ADHD also have comorbid mood or anxiety disorders that require treatment. Counseling can help address these issues, which may be contributing to ADHD symptoms. Interpersonal therapy is one of the psychotherapy techniques which can improve the ability of individuals to resolve conflicts and build lasting relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help control self-destructive, impulsive and negative behaviors that can cause problems at work or school.

In certain situations psychotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with medications for adults with adhd treatment. People with comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse must be assessed carefully to ensure they do not have symptoms that are not ameliorated by the medications that are prescribed to treat ADHD. People who suffer from certain medical issues, including thyroid disorders, lead poisoning and a history of seizures, must be treated more aggressively because they are at higher risk of developing complications from the medication.

If ADHD is severe enough to interfere with everyday functioning and quality of life, intensive outpatient programs may be suggested. These programs provide structured treatment that is more intensive than traditional outpatient psychotherapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD improve their ability to manage time management and impulse control, executive function, and planning. It helps them recognize and express feelings and utilizes exercises and worksheets to make the lessons interesting. The training in mindfulness meditation can enhance CBT and improves the ability of a person to concentrate and manage emotions. It increases the capacity of a person to tolerate the effects of stress and arousal. It can assist them in dealing with sadness, anger, and other difficult feelings that could be contributing to their ADHD.

Occupational Therapy

Adults with ADHD often report difficulty functioning at home and at work. In addition to affecting their work performance, these conditions can cause problems with relationships and can lead to financial difficulties. Therapy that addresses these issues can help you boost your self-esteem, solve underlying problems and establish healthy coping mechanisms.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a successful treatment for adults suffering from ADHD because it helps them change their negative beliefs and behavior. It focuses on teaching techniques for managing time and overcoming thinking distortions that can cause negative moods, and the perception of a limited number of options.

Many people with ADHD suffer from anxiety or depression disorders as comorbid conditions. These psychiatric disorders can exacerbate or reduce the effectiveness of certain treatments for ADHD. It is therefore recommended to treat the most severe comorbid condition and then observe its response to the medication before treating the other disorder.

Occupational therapy can teach you how to manage your life and work, establish routines that are predictable, manage time and money and build a positive self-image. It can also help you master relaxation techniques that could reduce your hyperactivity and impulsivity. Additionally yoga and other forms of exercise can help you improve your focus by ensuring your body is stable in different poses.

Family and marriage counseling can assist adults suffering from ADHD to resolve the issues they cause their spouses, kids and friends. They often complain about being unreliable and disorganized. They also tend to forget things or make impulsive decisions. You can build stronger relationships by teaching your spouses and other family members about ADHD. Furthermore it can aid you and your loved ones understand that these problems are related to the patient's ADHD instead of the lack of compassion or an unwillingness to cooperate.

Clinical Trials

Adult ADHD is an neurobiological disorder that is extremely prevalent. It is often accompanied by other disorders that are comorbid, such as anxiety, depression and abuse disorders. Treatment options include psychosocial and medical interventions. There are a variety of medications available for adults suffering from ADHD and some of these have been evaluated in clinical trials. These studies have highlighted both the advantages and drawbacks of the medications.

Adults with ADHD have the same symptoms as children, however it isn't always easy to diagnose them because childhood symptoms may not persist until adulthood. Additionally, people with ADHD may not have a family history of the disorder in their family or may not be aware of having symptoms. A thorough medical history is important to help determine whether the symptoms are caused by an illness like thyroid problems or sleep apnea. It could also be due to issues with vision and hearing or lead poisoning.

Medications for adults with ADHD generally fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants are the most effective medication for treating adults with ADHD and their responsiveness rates are in the 70%-80% range. The most frequently used stimulants are amphetamine and methylphenidate compounds. Methylphenidate may also be administered via a transdermal system. This permits continuous medication delivery during the day.

Adults suffering from ADHD can take non-stimulant drugs that work by affecting norepinephrine or dopamine. Desipramine is one of the most studied tricyclic, and has been proven to be effective for adults suffering from ADHD. It is a low dose medicine and is recommended to increase the dose by 50 mg every 7 days until the desired response is observed.

Bupropion XL another antidepressant, has been proven to work in adults with ADHD. It is a dopamine agonist and is able to block the reuptake of norepinephrine in the presynaptic receptor, thereby increasing its availability in the brain. This drug is known to improve mood in adults and reduce hyperactivity, however, it's not as effective in improving concentration or cognitive function as stimulants.