Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect a person's home life, work and relationships. The most common treatments are medication, skill-training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine is also referred to as Strattera is the only FDA approved non-stimulant medication to treat adult ADHD. Research shows that it is effective and has a low risk of abuse. Psychosocial interventions to improve issues with organizational skills and comorbid disorders have a strong evidence base and are particularly effective in training parents to be behavioral (BPT). However, precision in psychosocial guidelines is not easy to attain.
Medication
For many people with ADHD it is believed that a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment is the best method to manage their symptoms. It may take some time for a person to notice any improvements in their ADHD symptoms. Consult your physician if you're considering taking medication to help improve your ADHD symptoms. Be sure that the medication is safe for you and doesn't interfere with other medications that you take.
People suffering from ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, regulating impulses planning and accomplishing tasks on time. These issues can impact school, work and social interactions. They can make it difficult to take time out and unwind.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is medication. Medications are able to reduce or eliminate the requirement for psychosocial interventions and can improve a person’s quality of living. The good news is that medications aren't addictive and have a low risk of misuse. People with ADHD may benefit from stimulants, based on numerous studies. People who are unable to tolerate the side effects of stimulant medications may choose non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medication is only part of the solution. A thorough evaluation should include a history of symptoms and a discussion of the impact of ADHD symptoms on a person's everyday functioning. It should also be able to identify if the person has any comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety, that could affect the response to therapy and medications.
Medical examination usually does not reveal signs of the disorder, and a diagnosis is made on clinical judgement, with a clear history of symptoms that began in the age of three to. In addition to a detailed interview, additional information such as school records and child health assessments can be useful in establishing a diagnosis.
Different psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available, including metacognition, cognitive remediation and working memory training. However, these do not seem to be more effective than psychotherapy, and aren't likely to be as effective of effectiveness as a dosed medication. Patients are advised to begin with a lower dose of medication that can be combined with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people with ADHD discover that talk therapy or psychotherapy can help improve their life. Certain studies suggest that certain kinds of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention therapy (RPT) can to reduce symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is a form of psychosocial treatment that consists of one-on-one sessions between a professional counselor or therapist. Different types of talk therapy exist and the choice of therapist should be based on your needs and goals.
A common method of treating adult ADHD is to use a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Studies have shown that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than any method alone. This method is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms and develop how to cope. It can teach you how to deal with problems in your work, school and personal life. Your therapist may suggest you attend individual, group, or family therapy depending on your needs and goals.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of psychotherapy which can help adults with ADHD to boost their self-esteem and functioning. CBT works by teaching you how to recognize and modify negative thoughts, which can influence your behavior and emotions. For how to get treated for adhd in adults , CBT can teach you to alter your "all or nothing" thinking which can lead 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 offer you advice based upon their research and experience. They may also assign you homework, such as journaling or trying something new. It's crucial to complete homework because it will allow you to practice what you've learned.
It's important to keep in mind that seeking treatment is not a sign of weakness. It's a courageous choice to live the life you deserve. With the structure and support, as well as the skills gained through psychotherapy, it is possible to reach your highest goals and ambitions.
Education
Education can be a beneficial tool for adults with ADHD. It can be used to teach organizational skills, how to prepare for work, and ways to improve the way one talks and listens to others. It can be helpful to focus on teaching patients to recognize signs and how these affect their behavior. This can be done either in individual sessions or group therapy.
Research has shown that a variety psychosocial interventions can help to reduce symptoms that are problematic for ADHD people and improve their performance. These include educational interventions, which can improve academic achievement and self-report of ADHD symptoms. A variety of behavioral and cognitive therapies have been shown to be effective. They include hypnotherapy and neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proven to be superior to controls. Further replication is needed to verify the results.
In a study it was discovered that an educational program which taught students how to identify their own impulsive or inattentive behavior was more effective than waiting for lists to improve self-reported ADHD symptoms. Another study revealed that a daily report card helped improve academic performance of children suffering from ADHD. Training for parents to be more observant has been shown to be effective in reducing negative parenting behavior and promoting positive family functioning, but the effect of self-directed training for parents versus therapist-led parenting needs more research.
Adolescents with ADHD are at a higher danger of driving accidents that result from impaired thinking, like crashes that cause injuries or even death. The intense summer "bridge" program has been proven to enhance driving abilities in adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions discovered to be beneficial include central executive training and working memory training.
Adults suffering from ADHD have difficulty maintaining stable relationships or jobs. Poor organizational skills as well as inability to complete or follow through on tasks as well as impulsive and indifferent behavior can make co-workers and family members frustrated. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve communication skills can help them deal with these difficulties. The same can be said for couples counseling which helps couples learn how to deal with each other's issues when they occur.
Counseling
Although medications are effective for a large number of people suffering from ADHD however, it isn't always sufficient to treat the symptoms in all cases. The side effects of medications can be unpredictable, and they can affect certain people differently. Counseling is therefore an essential part of the treatment plan. Counseling can assist people in learning to manage their emotions, develop relationships, and increase self-esteem.
Multiple randomized controlled studies have proven the efficacy of psychosocial therapy for ADHD. In some studies, the academic performance of both the students and parents improved when a combination medication and behavioral therapy was employed. Studies have also proven that medications that are low doses of stimulant combined with a behavioral therapy program improved the behavior of students in class and homework performance when compared to a control group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were taught to implement two brief homework and organization interventions for students suffering from ADHD. These interventions were compared to an initial course of low dose medication. The results suggest that a sequential multi-assignment randomized study could be a viable method of bridging the gap between research findings and implementation of school-based interventions for ADHD.
Before taking any medication it is recommended that schools implement ADHD intervention, which includes behavior training and parent education. A combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy interventions should be the first option for treatment for adults and adolescents. For adolescents and adults, the first medication should be stimulants (methylphenidate, dexamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine) as long as they are able to take such medications due to any other health conditions. In these instances, atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical exam should be performed to determine the presence of any other disorder that may interfere with learning and performance, for example neurological disorders (such epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, or cerebral palsy), nutritional problems and substance abuse disorders (SUD) chronic illnesses like asthma, and other comorbid mental disorders. If the exam and history are not revealing, a diagnosis of ADHD is made by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist based on established diagnostic criteria.