Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that affect their work, home life and relationships. Treatments typically include medication, training in skills and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved non-stimulant medication for adults with ADHD. Studies have proven that it is safe and has low potential for abuse. Psychosocial interventions that address the comorbid disorder and organizational skills have a strong evidence base including behavioral parent training (BPT). However, precision in psychosocial guidelines is a challenge to attain.
Medication
For many people with ADHD the combination of medication and psychosocial treatment is the best method to manage their symptoms. It may take some time for someone to see any improvements in their ADHD symptoms. Talk to your doctor in the event that you're considering taking medication to improve your ADHD symptoms. Make sure it's safe for you, and doesn't interfere with other medications you take.
People with ADHD might have difficulty focus and concentration, regulating impulses, planning and completing tasks within the timeframe. These issues can have a negative impact on work, school and social interactions. These difficulties can also make it hard to relax and enjoy leisure activities.
Medicines are the most effective treatments based on scientific evidence for ADHD. They can help reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions, and they can greatly improve the quality of life. The good news is that medications aren't addictive and they have low risk of misuse. A number of studies have demonstrated that those with ADHD benefit from using stimulants. People who are unable to tolerate the adverse effects of stimulant medications may opt for non-stimulants like atomoxetine (Strattera).
The medication isn't the only answer. 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 address whether the person has any other conditions that are comorbid like depression or anxiety, which may impact the effectiveness of therapy and medications.
A medical exam does not usually reveal any signs of the disorder. Instead, a diagnosis is based on a clinical judgment, and a history of symptoms that started in the earliest years of childhood. A detailed interview can be helpful when combined with additional information, like medical records from schools or child health assessments.
Various psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available that include metacognition, cognitive remediation and working memory training. However, these do not seem to be superior to psychotherapy, and aren't likely to have the same level of effectiveness as a dosed medication. Complex regimens are not always followed, and patients are advised to start with a small dose of medication that is easily mixed with therapy for behavioral issues.
Psychotherapy
Many people with ADHD find that talking therapy or psychotherapy can help them enhance their lives. Certain studies suggest that certain types of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention therapy (RPT), can help alleviate symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is psychosocial treatment that involves sessions with a professional counselor or therapist. There are various types of talk therapy and the therapist you select will depend on your goals and needs.
A typical approach to treating adult ADHD is to employ the combination of medication and psychotherapy. Studies have demonstrated that combining therapy and medication is more effective than either one by itself. The National Institute of Mental Health also recommends this method.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms and learn how to cope. It can help you learn how to deal with problems in your school, work and in your relationship. Your therapist might suggest that you attend individual, group or family therapy based on your goals and needs.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that can assist adults suffering from ADHD to boost their self-esteem as well as functioning. CBT teaches you how to identify negative thoughts and change them, which can impact your behavior and emotions. CBT for instance can help you to alter your "all-or-nothing" thinking that can cause people with ADHD believe that they must be doing everything perfectly or not at all.
During the course of a session the counselor will listen to you and ask questions to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. They will then offer suggestions based on their experience and research. You may also be given homework, like journaling or trying a new activity. It is important to complete your homework since it will assist you in putting what have learned into action.
It is important to remember that seeking treatment is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it's an empowering step toward living the life you've always wanted. With the structure, support, and skills that you acquire through psychotherapy, you will be able to attain your most important goals and ambitions.
Education
Education can be a powerful tool for adults suffering from ADHD. It can be used to teach organizational skills, methods to prepare for work, and ways to improve the way someone speaks and listens to other people. Therapy that focuses on teaching the patient to recognize their symptoms and how they affect behavior can also be helpful. This can be done in individual sessions or group therapy.
Research has proven that various psychosocial interventions can significantly reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve the functioning of people with ADHD. Educational interventions can help improve academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Different behavioral and cognitive treatments have been proven to be effective, including hypnotherapy, metacognitive training, neurofeedback and cognitive remediation. However they are not all have been proven to be superior to controls. Further research is required to verify the results.
In the course of a study, an educational program that taught students to recognize their own inattention and impulsive behaviors was found to be more effective than waitlist control in improving self-report ADHD symptoms. A daily report card for behavior was discovered to improve academic performance for children with ADHD in a separate study. It has been established that training for parents to be a behavioral one is effective in decreasing negative parental behavior and enhancing positive family function. However, the results of self-directed versus therapist-led training are still being explored.
Adolescents who have ADHD are at a higher danger of driving accidents that result from impaired thinking, like crashes that result in injuries or even death. The intense summer "bridge" program has been shown to improve driving skills in adolescents suffering from ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions discovered to be beneficial include central executive training and working memory training.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty maintaining an enduring job or relationship. Inability to manage their time and inability to finish or follow through on tasks as well as impulsive and indifferent behavior can cause coworkers and family members unhappy. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve their communication skills can help them manage these difficulties. Couples counseling helps partners resolve issues that arise.
Counseling
Although medication is beneficial for a significant number of people suffering from ADHD but it is not always sufficient to reduce all symptoms. The adverse effects of medications can be unpredictable, and they can affect certain people in different ways. For this reason, counseling is an important component of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can aid people in learning how to better manage their emotions, develop relationships, and increase self-esteem.
The effectiveness of psychosocial therapies for ADHD has been demonstrated in several controlled studies that are randomized. adhd in adults characterization diagnosis and treatment found that when the combination of behavioral therapy and medication is employed, both the parents and students' ratings of academic functioning improves. Studies have also shown that a low dose stimulant medication coupled with behavioral therapy can improve the behavior of students in class and homework performance when compared with a comparably group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were instructed to implement two short homework and organizational interventions for students suffering from ADHD. The interventions were compared with an initial course of medication that was low dose. The results suggest that a sequential, multi-assignment, randomized trial may be a successful method to bridge the gap between research findings and implementation of school-based interventions for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions that include behavior education and education for parents prior to trying medication. For adults and adolescents the first course of treatment should consist of a combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy. The first medications for adults and adolescents should be stimulants, such dexamphetamine or methylphenidate, except that some other health conditions prohibit them from taking these medications. In such cases either atomoxetine, or guanfacine may be considered.
A thorough medical examination must be conducted to rule out other disorders that may affect your functioning and learning, including neurological disorders (such as Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy or cerebral palsy) and nutrition-related issues and substance use disorders (SUD), chronic illnesses such as asthma and comorbid psychological issues. If the medical history and examination are not remarkable, a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD using established diagnostic criteria, if they find nothing unusual.