Treatment of ADHD in Adults

Adults who suffer from adhd are treated by therapy, medication and support from the family. Clinical trials are being conducted to test new treatments for ADHD.

Stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for adults with ADHD. They must be monitored regularly. That includes monthly clinical appointments, and frequent reviews of symptoms and side effects.

Medications

There are many drugs that can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are called psychostimulants and they work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) which transmit messages between nerve cells. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you, and determine the best dosage and timetable. It could take some time to find the right dosage and medication that will control your symptoms.

The first drug that doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These medications increase the amount of dopamine that is present in your brain, and also norepinephrine which helps you to control your thoughts and improve your focus. The medications are available in short-, mediumand long-acting varieties. Short-acting stimulants last around 6 hours, intermediate-acting medicines last between 8 and 10 hours, and long-acting medicines last up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause side effects than intermediate- or shorter-acting medications. However, they can cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.

Nonstimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are used to treat adult ADHD in cases where stimulants don't perform or cause undesirable side effects. These medicines do not affect your dopamine or norepinephrine however they increase the amount of norepinephrine available to your brain and improve your ability to concentrate. These capsules are consumed once or two times a day.

Some adults with ADHD also suffer from other mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These are referred to as comorbid conditions and they can impact how you react to treatment for ADHD. It is important to address any comorbid disorders prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. For instance, people who have an history of using substances disorder may be more likely to misuse psychostimulants. This is why it's often advisable to wait until the patient has removed themselves from using substances before evaluating treatment with stimulants for ADHD.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy involves discussing and discussing issues that are troubling or disturbing to the person. The therapist provides guidance in accordance with their qualifications, experience, training, and the therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or even months) and can address more immediate issues, or long-term. The duration and frequency of treatment are determined by the therapist and patient together.

Psychotherapy and medication are a highly effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy helps people improve their ability to manage their time, organize and prioritizing. It can also teach techniques for managing emotions such as anger and frustration. Treatment can ease symptoms and improve focus, leading to more efficient and successful work and academic performance.

Adults with ADHD are more likely to be affected by co-existing issues, especially mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Before beginning treatment for ADHD, it is important to treat any co-existing condition. Treatment for co-existing disorders might require different types and dosages of medication than the ones used to treat ADHD.

A person suffering from ADHD can also have hypertension. To pick a medication that can treat the ADHD symptoms without causing instability to the hypertension of the patient it is essential to know how different medications affect people in the course of time, as well as the interactions between the medications.

It is essential to locate a therapist who has expertise in treating adults with ADHD and with whom you feel comfortable. It's important to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you aren't distracted by family or work obligations.

Counseling

Adults who suffer from ADHD have many difficulties in their lives, such as difficulties in their relationships and at work. A person with ADHD may be prone to anger, frustration and guilt that has been accumulated over time. Psychosocial treatments can aid patients and their families develop new attitudes, skills and ways of communicating.

Psychotherapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals change their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods to help improve self-esteem and organization. It may be done in groups or individually. Some studies have shown that treatment for metacognitive disorders can reduce symptoms and improve functioning for adults suffering from ADHD (Stevenson and co-authors 2002).

Some people suffering from ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain life challenges. These could include family conflict, impulsive or aggressive behaviors, or difficulty managing failures and disappointments. Counseling can help develop strategies to help deal with these situations and increase communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also enhance interpersonal relationships, particularly in marriages and other long-term partnerships.

Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are other forms of psychotherapy that could be used to treat ADHD. These can help families deal with the stress of having a child suffering from ADHD and help improve communication and reduce conflict. It can aid parents understand the disorder and develop parenting strategies that encourage positive outcomes in their children.

It is important for people with ADHD to discuss their medications with their healthcare providers regularly, and to disclose all other medications they are taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Certain medications can trigger adverse effects or interact with other medications.

Medication Monitoring

After a thorough examination and diagnosis is made it is important that the patient be monitored to ensure that he or she is receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing adverse effects. It is recommended to visit a patient for the initial clinical monitoring within 30days of beginning treatment, and then every month following that. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) this allows for a complete titration to an effective dose that is well-tolerated. This allows for a precise registration of the patient's reaction and helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients taking insufficient doses (slow metabolizers) or forcing those who require higher doses on excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).

For adults who are not responding well to stimulant medication or suffer from uncontrollable side effects, the use of nonstimulant medication could be recommended. This typically involves the use of atomoxetine or other alternatives to methylphenidate.

Adults with ADHD often have comorbid disorders such as mood or anxiety disorder, substance abuse issues or depression. They might also be suffering from adhd symptoms in adults treatment medical conditions like hearing or vision problems or chronic sleep disorders. It is essential to identify and analyze these conditions as part of the initial evaluation for ADHD because they could have a significant effects on functional impairment in adults.

Marital therapy is also useful in the treatment of ADHD. Spouses report feeling overburdened with the caretaking duties of their spouses with ADHD and can become resentful or angry as a consequence. Making the patient aware of the symptoms of his/her condition and helping to understand that these aren't willful actions or lack of love can help to reduce marital conflict and resentment. Couples who go through this kind of therapy typically experience better family functioning.

Behavioral Therapy

For adults with ADHD, psychotherapy is generally recommended and should include the cognitive-behavioral aspect. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus, as well as control an impulsive behaviour. It teaches patients to manage their work, home, and social situations in more productive ways. Psychotherapy helps patients understand how their disorder impacts different areas of their life and relationships. This can help reduce the self-doubt and shame that are often experienced by adults with ADHD, who may be considered lazy or less intelligent.

Many psychiatric disorders be akin to ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are found at a high rate in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found in greater numbers among people suffering from the disorder. If necessary the presence of any other psychiatric disorders should be assessed to determine if ADHD symptoms are a result of them.

Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated with a combination of pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. It has been proven that when a combination of medications and psychotherapy is used results are more favorable than treatment on its own. Future controlled studies will aim to monitor and evaluate improvements in functional performance, for example, improvement in school performance as well as in the workplace and interpersonal relationships.