Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that affect their work, home life and relationships. Standard treatments involve medication, training in skills and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved, non-stimulant medication for adult ADHD. Studies have proven that it is effective and has low abuse potential. Psychosocial interventions addressing issues with organizational skills and comorbid disorders have a strong scientific basis including behavioral parent training (BPT). It is difficult to provide precise psychosocial guidelines.
Medication
For many people with ADHD, a combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best way to manage their symptoms. It can take a while for someone to see any improvement in their ADHD symptoms. If you are considering using medication to treat your ADHD symptoms, speak to your doctor to ensure that it is suitable for you and does not interact with any other medications you are taking.
People with ADHD may have trouble concentrating and focusing, controlling impulses, planning and completing tasks on time. These issues can impact work, school and social relationships. These difficulties can also make it hard to relax and enjoy leisure activities.
Medicines are the most effective treatment based on research-based evidence for ADHD. Medications are able to reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions and can enhance the quality of living. The good news is that medications aren't addicting and carry a the lowest risk of abuse. People with ADHD are able to benefit from stimulants, according to various studies. Non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine, also known as Strattera, are available for people who are unable to take stimulants' side effects.
The medication isn't the only answer. A thorough assessment should include a history of symptoms and a discussion of the impact of ADHD symptoms on a person's daily functioning. It is essential to determine if the individual has any co-morbid conditions such as depression or anxiety that could affect the response to medication or treatment.
Medical examinations usually do not reveal signs of the disorder, and a diagnosis is based upon clinical judgment, with an established history of symptoms that began in the age of three to. A thorough interview may be useful in conjunction with collateral information, like school records or health assessments.
Many psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available that include metacognition, cognitive remediation and working memory training. These psychosocial treatments don't appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy and are unlikely to have the same level effectiveness. Complex regimens are often not followed and patients are advised to start with a lower dose of medication that can be easily combined with therapy for behavioral issues.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD discover that therapy or psychotherapy helps them improve their life. Certain studies suggest that talk therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or relapse prevention treatment (RPT) can reduce ADHD symptoms. Talk therapy is a type of psychosocial treatment that consists of one-on-one sessions between a professional counselor or therapist. Different kinds of talk therapy are available and your choice of the therapist you choose should be based on your preferences and goals.
Combining psychotherapy and medication is a common way to treat adult ADHD. Studies have demonstrated that combining psychotherapy and medication is more effective than each approach alone. The National Institute of Mental Health also recommends this method.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you to deal with ADHD symptoms and manage these symptoms. It can teach you strategies to cope with issues in your relationships, work and school. Depending on what happens if adhd is left untreated in adults and goals your therapist might suggest that you attend individual, family, or group therapy.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that helps adults suffering from ADHD to improve their self-esteem and performance. CBT teaches you how to identify negative thoughts and change them, which can impact your emotions and behavior. For example, CBT can teach you to shift your "all or nothing" thinking that can cause people with ADHD to believe that they must perform everything perfectly or not at all.
In the course of a session, your therapist will listen to your and ask questions to understand your thoughts and emotions. They will then give you tips based on their experiences and research. You may also be given assignments, such as journaling or trying a new activity. You should do your homework since it will aid you in putting what you have learned into practice.
It's important to remember that seeking treatment isn't an indication of weakness. In fact, it's an empowering step toward living the life you've always wanted. You can reach your goals and ambitions with the help of psychotherapy.
Education
Education can be a powerful instrument to assist adults with ADHD. Education can include classes to teach organizational skills, how to prepare for tasks, and ways to improve the way someone speaks and listens to others. It is beneficial to focus on teaching patients to recognize signs and how these affect their behavior. This can be accomplished in individual sessions or through group therapy.
Research has proven that many psychosocial interventions can significantly reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve functioning in individuals with ADHD. These include educational interventions that can enhance academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Various cognitive and behavior therapies have been proven to be effective, such as hypnotherapy, metacognitive training, neurofeedback and cognitive remediation. Nevertheless, not all of them have been proven to be superior to the controls. Further studies are needed to confirm the results.
In an investigation it was found that a program of education that taught students how to identify their own inattention or impulsive behavior was more effective than waiting for an inventory to improve self-reported ADHD symptoms. A daily report card for behavior was discovered to improve academic performance in children with ADHD in a different study. It has been established that behavioral parenting training is effective in reducing negative parental behaviors and promoting positive family function. However, the effects of therapist-led versus self-directed training require further investigation.
Adolescents who have ADHD are at a high danger of driving accidents that result from impaired thinking, like crashes that cause injury or death. The intensive summer "bridge" programs have been shown to improve driving skills in adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have been found to be helpful, including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults suffering from ADHD often have trouble maintaining stability in their jobs or relationships. Inability to organize their lives and inability to finish or follow through on tasks as well as impulsive and indifferent behavior can cause coworkers and family members frustrated. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve communication skills can help them manage these issues. This is also true for couples counseling, which helps couples learn how to deal with each other's problems as they arise.
Counseling
Although medication is beneficial for a significant number of people suffering from ADHD but it is not always sufficient to treat the severity of symptoms. The adverse effects of medications can be unpredictable, and they can affect certain people differently. Therefore, counseling is an essential part of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can help people find better ways to manage their emotions, improve their relationships and self-esteem, as well as learn strategies to cope with the unique challenges that come with living with ADHD.
The efficacy of psychosocial treatment for ADHD has been proven in numerous controlled trials that were randomized. Some studies found that when a combination of behavioral therapy and medication is employed, both the student and parent-report of academic functioning improves. In addition, studies have shown that the use of the use of a small dose of stimulant medication with behavioral therapy can improve classroom behavior and homework performance when compared to a control group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were trained on how to implement two brief homework and organization programs for ADHD students. The interventions were compared to the initial course, which contained a low dose medication. The results suggest that a sequential multi-assignment, randomized trial may be a successful method of bridging the gap between research findings and actual implementation of school-based interventions for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions that include behavior management and education for parents, prior to taking medication. A combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy interventions should be the first line of treatment for adults and adolescents. For adolescents and adults the first treatment should be stimulants (methylphenidate, dexamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine) in the event that they are unable to use these medications due to other health conditions. In these cases, atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical examination should be performed to rule out any other conditions that may affect your functioning and learning, including neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, or cerebral palsy) and nutrition-related issues, substance use disorder (SUD) chronic illnesses such as asthma, and comorbid psychological disorders. If the examination and history aren't extraordinary, a psychiatrist or psychologist may be able to diagnose ADHD with established diagnostic criteria if they discover nothing unusual.