iampsychiatry Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that impact their home, work and relationships. The most common treatments include medications, training for skills and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine, also known as Strattera is the only FDA approved non-stimulant medication for use to treat adult ADHD. Research shows that it is safe and has low potential for abuse. Psychosocial interventions that focus on organizational skills and comorbid conditions have a strong evidence base including behavioral parent training (BPT). However, accuracy in psychosocial guidelines is not easy to attain.
Medication
For many people with ADHD, a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment is the best approach to manage their symptoms. It can take time before someone can see any improvement in their ADHD symptoms. If you're thinking of using medication to treat your ADHD symptoms, consult your doctor to ensure that it is safe for you and won't interfere with any other medication you are taking.
People with ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, controlling their impulses making plans and finishing tasks in a timely manner. These issues can impact school, work and social interactions. They can also make it difficult to take time out and take time to relax.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is medication. Medications can reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions and they can dramatically improve a person's quality of life. Fortunately, they don't cause addiction and carry the lowest chance of being misused. People with ADHD may benefit from stimulants, as per numerous studies. Non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine, also known as Strattera are available to people who are unable to take stimulants' adverse effects.
Medication is not the only answer. A thorough assessment should include a history of symptoms and a discussion of the effects of ADHD symptoms on a person's everyday functioning. It is important to determine if the individual has any co-morbid conditions like anxiety or depression that may affect the response to medication and treatment.
A medical examination will generally not reveal any symptoms of the condition. However, a diagnosis is based upon clinical judgment and the history of symptoms that began in childhood. A thorough interview may be helpful when combined with additional information, like school records or health assessments.
Different psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available, including cognitive remediation, metacognition and working memory training. These treatments do not seem to be as effective as pharmacotherapy, and are unlikely to have the same degree of effectiveness. Patients are advised to start with a lower dose of medication that can be paired with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people with ADHD discover that talk therapy or psychotherapy can help them improve their life. Certain studies suggest that certain kinds of talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Relapse prevention therapy (RPT) can to reduce symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is a form of psychosocial treatment which involves one-on-one sessions between a professional counselor or therapist. There are different types of talk therapy, and the therapist you choose should be based upon your goals and needs.
Combining medication and psychotherapy is a common way to treat adult ADHD. Studies have shown that combining psychotherapy and medication is more effective than either method by itself. This method is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Psychotherapy, also known as psychotherapy, can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms and learn coping skills. It can teach you strategies for dealing with issues in your relationships, work and school. Based on your needs and goals your therapist might suggest that you take part in individual, family, or group therapy.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of psychotherapy which can help people with ADHD to improve their self-esteem as well as functioning. CBT helps you learn how to recognize and alter negative thoughts, which can affect your emotions and behaviors. CBT for instance, can teach you how to change "all-or-nothing" thinking that makes people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything perfectly or not at all.
In a therapy session your therapy therapist listens to you and asks questions to gain a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings. The therapist will then give you advice based upon their research and experience. You might also be provided with assignments, such as journaling or attempting a new activity. You must complete your homework because it will aid you in putting what you have learned into practice.
It's important to keep in mind that seeking treatment doesn't necessarily mean you're weak. In fact, it's an empowering step toward living the life you've always wanted. You can achieve your goals and ambitions by utilizing psychotherapy.
Education
Education can be an effective tool for adults with ADHD. Classes can be taught to improve communication skills, to learn how to organize tasks, and also to learn to communicate with others. Therapy that focuses on teaching the patient to identify their symptoms and how they affect behavior could also be beneficial. This can be done in individual sessions or through group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that a variety of psychosocial interventions can reduce problematic symptoms in ADHD individuals and improve their functioning. Educational interventions can help improve academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. A variety of behavioral and cognitive therapies have been shown to be effective, such as hypnotherapy, neurofeedback, metacognitive learning, and cognitive remediation. However they are not all have been proven superior to the controls. Further research is required to verify the results.
In one study, a program that taught students to identify their own inattention and impulsive behavior was found to be more effective than a waitlist control in improving self-reports of ADHD symptoms. A daily report card for behavior was found to boost academic performance of children suffering from ADHD in a separate study. Behavioral parent training has been proven effective in decreasing negative parenting behaviors and increasing positive family functioning, however the effects of self-directed training for parents versus therapist-led parenting needs more research.
Adolescents who suffer from ADHD are at a high risk for impaired driving outcomes, including accidents that cause injury or death. The intense summer "bridge" program has been proven to improve driving skills in adolescents suffering from ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have also been found to be helpful including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults with ADHD struggle to maintain stable relationships or jobs. Inability to organize their lives, inability to complete or finish tasks and inattention and impulsive behavior can leave coworkers and family members frustrated. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve their communication skills can help them overcome these difficulties. Couples counseling teaches partners to manage issues that arise.
Counseling
Although medications are effective for a large number of people with ADHD, it is not always sufficient to reduce the symptoms in all cases. The side effects of medications can be unpredictable and they may affect some people in different ways. Counseling is therefore an essential element of the treatment plan. Counseling can help people find better methods to manage their emotions, improve their relationships and self-esteem, as well as learn strategies to face the unique challenges associated with living with ADHD.
The effectiveness of psychosocial treatments for ADHD has been proven in numerous controlled trials that were randomized. A few studies showed that when a combination of medication and behavioral therapy is employed, both the parents and students' ratings of academic functioning improves. Studies have also shown that a low dose stimulant medication combined with behavioral therapy improved classroom behavior as well as the performance on homework when compared to a control group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were taught to implement two short homework and organizational interventions for students suffering from ADHD. The two interventions were then compared with an initial course of low dose medication. The results suggest that a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial may be a viable way to bridge the gap between research and practice in school-based interventions for ADHD.
Before attempting medication, it is recommended that schools implement ADHD intervention which includes behavior education and parent education. For adolescents and adults the first course of treatment should consist of a combination of psychosocial interventions and pharmacotherapy. For adults and adolescents, the first medication should be stimulants (methylphenidate dexamphetamine, dexamphetamine or lisdexam) as long as they are able to use these drugs due to health conditions. In such cases the use of atomoxetine or guanfacine could be considered.
A thorough medical examination should be conducted to determine the presence of any other disorder that might affect learning and performance, for example neurological disorders (such epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, or cerebral palsy), nutritional problems, substance abuse disorder (SUD), chronic diseases like asthma, and comorbid mental disorders. If the medical history and examination aren't particularly remarkable, a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD by using established diagnostic criteria if they discover nothing unusual.