Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect a person's home life, work and relationships. Standard treatments involve medications, training for skills and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved, non-stimulant medication for adults with ADHD. It is safe and effective, based on research. Psychosocial interventions to improve organizational skills and comorbid disorders have a strong evidence base, particularly behavioral parent training (BPT). However, accuracy in psychosocial guidelines is not easy to achieve.
Medication
For many people with ADHD the combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best method to manage their symptoms. Medical treatment has been proven to be highly efficient in reducing symptoms of ADHD, but it can take a while for a person to see results. Consult your doctor in the event that you're considering using medication to treat your ADHD symptoms. Make sure that it's safe for you, and doesn't interfere with other medications you are taking.
People suffering from ADHD might have difficulty concentrating and focusing, controlling impulses as well as planning and completing tasks within the timeframe. These issues can have a negative impact on school, work, and social relationships. These issues can make it difficult to relax and take advantage of leisure activities.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is medication. They can help reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions and they can greatly improve a person's quality of life. It is good to know that medications aren't addictive and they have the lowest risk of misuse. Several studies have shown that people suffering from ADHD benefit from the use of stimulants. People who are unable to tolerate the side effects of stimulant medications may choose non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
The medication is just one part of the answer. A thorough evaluation should include a history of symptoms and a description of the impact of ADHD symptoms on a person's everyday functioning. It is important to determine if the patient is suffering from any co-morbid conditions such as depression or anxiety that could affect the response to medication and treatment.
A medical examination will typically not reveal any indications of the disorder. Instead, a diagnosis is based upon clinical judgment, and a history of symptoms that began in the early years of childhood. In addition to a thorough interview, other information such as medical records from schools and child health assessments can be useful in establishing a diagnosis.
There are a variety of psychosocial treatments available for ADHD that include metacognition and cognitive remediation. These psychosocial treatments do not appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy and are unlikely to have the same degree of effectiveness. Complex regimens are not always followed and patients are advised to begin with a small dose of medication that can be easily combined with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD find that talking therapy or psychotherapy can help improve their lives. Certain studies suggest that talking therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or relapse prevention treatment (RPT) can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. Talk therapy is psychosocial treatment that involves sessions with a trained therapist or counselor. There are various types of talk therapy and the therapist you select should be based upon your goals and requirements.
Combining psychotherapy and medication is a common method to treat adult ADHD. Studies have shown that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than either approach alone. The National Institute of Mental Health also recommends this approach.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you learn to manage ADHD symptoms and manage them. It can provide strategies to deal with difficulties in your work, relationships and school. Your therapist may suggest you attend group, individual, or family therapy depending on your goals and needs.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of psychotherapy which can help adults with ADHD to improve their self-esteem and performance. CBT helps you learn how to recognize and alter negative thoughts, which can influence your behavior and emotions. CBT for instance, can teach you how to alter your "all-or-nothing" thinking which can make people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything perfect or not at all.
During a session, your therapist will listen to you and ask questions to understand your thoughts and feelings. They will then provide you with suggestions based on their experience and research. You might also be assigned homework, like journaling or trying a new activity. It's important to do the homework, as it will allow you to apply what you've learned.
It's important to remember that seeking treatment isn't a sign of weakness. It's a courageous choice to live the life you've always wanted. With the structure and support, as well as the skills that you build through psychotherapy, you will be able to reach your highest goals and dreams.
Education
Education can be a powerful method for adults suffering from ADHD. Classes can be taught to improve communication skills, learn to manage tasks and to learn how to communicate with others. It is beneficial to focus on teaching patients how to recognize symptoms and how these affect their behavior. This can be done in individual sessions or group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that many psychosocial interventions can dramatically reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve performance in people with ADHD. These include educational interventions, which can boost academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. adhd treatment for adults medication and cognitive therapies have been shown to be efficient. These include hypnotherapy as well as neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proven to be superior to control methods and the results need further testing.
In the course of a study it was found that a school program that taught students to recognize their own inattention or impulsive behavior was more effective than relying on an inventory to improve self-reported ADHD symptoms. A daily report card on behavior was found to boost academic performance in children with ADHD in another study. The training of parents on behavior has been proven to be effective in reducing negative parenting behaviors and increasing positive family functioning, but the impact of self-directed parenting as opposed to therapist-led training for parents requires more research.
Adolescents who have ADHD are at a greater risk chance of having impaired driving outcomes like crashes that result in injury or death. The intense summer "bridge" program has been shown to improve driving skills in adolescents suffering from ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have been discovered to be beneficial including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults with ADHD often have trouble maintaining an enduring job or relationship. Poor organizational skills, inability to complete or finish tasks, and impulsive and inattentive behavior can cause coworkers and family members unhappy. Psychotherapy that teaches patients how to improve communication skills can help them manage these difficulties. The same can be said for couples counseling, which teaches partners how to deal with each other's issues when they occur.
Counseling
While medication is beneficial for a significant number of people suffering from ADHD, it is not always enough to eliminate all symptoms. Medications can be unpredictable and can cause negative side effects that affect certain people in various ways. This is why counseling is an important component of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can help patients discover better ways to manage their emotions, improve their relationships and self-esteem, as well as learn strategies to deal with the unique challenges associated with living with ADHD.
Multiple randomized controlled studies have proven the efficacy of psychosocial therapy for ADHD. In certain studies, academic performance of both the parents and students improved when a combination of medication and behavioral therapy was utilized. Studies have also shown that the use of a low dose stimulant coupled with behavioral therapy can improve the behavior of students in class as well as the performance on homework when compared to a control group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were trained to implement two brief homework and organization strategies for students with ADHD. These interventions were compared with the initial course, which contained a low dose medication. The results suggest that a sequential multiple-assignment randomized trial could be an effective method of bridging the gap between research findings and implementation of school-based interventions for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions, which include behavior training and parental education, before taking medication. For adolescents and adults, the first treatment should be a combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy. The first medications for adults and adolescents must be stimulants, such as methylphenidate or dexamphetamine, unless any other health issues prevent them from taking these drugs. In these instances, atomoxetine and guanfacine are options.
A thorough medical exam must be performed to rule out any other disorders that may interfere with learning and functioning, such as neurological disorders (such epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome or cerebral palsy) as well as nutritional issues, substance abuse disorder (SUD), chronic diseases like asthma, and comorbid mental disorders. If the examination and history aren't particularly remarkable A psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD using established diagnostic criteria, if they find nothing unusual.