Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that impact their work, home and relationships. Standard treatments include medication, skill training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved, non-stimulant medication for adult ADHD. It is safe and effective, as per research. Psychosocial interventions addressing issues with organizational skills and comorbid disorders have a strong scientific basis, particularly behavioral parent training (BPT). However, the precision of psychosocial guidelines is not easy to achieve.
Medication
For many people with ADHD, a combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best way to manage their symptoms. Medical treatment has been proven to be very efficient in reducing symptoms of ADHD however, it may take a few months for people to see results. Talk to your doctor if you're considering taking medication to help improve your ADHD symptoms. Be sure that the medication is safe for you and that it won't interact with other medications you are taking.
People suffering from ADHD have difficulty with focusing and concentrating, controlling their impulses making plans and accomplishing tasks in a timely manner. These issues can have a negative impact on work, school and social relationships. They can make it difficult to enjoy leisure activities and take time to relax.
Medications are the most effective evidence-based treatment for ADHD. They can reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions, and improve a person’s quality of living. Fortunately, they don't cause addiction and have a low chance of being misused. Several studies have shown that people suffering from ADHD benefit from stimulants. Those who cannot tolerate the side effects of stimulant medications can choose non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medication is not the answer. A thorough evaluation should include a detailed history of symptoms and a discussion of the impact of ADHD symptoms on a person's daily functioning. It is important to determine if the person is suffering from any co-morbid conditions like anxiety or depression that may affect the response to medication or therapy.
untreated adhd in adults depression will not usually reveal any signs of the disorder. However, a diagnosis is based upon clinical judgment and the history of symptoms that started in the early years of childhood. A thorough interview may be useful in conjunction with collateral information, such as school records or health assessments.
There are a variety of psychosocial treatments available for ADHD such as metacognition and cognitive rehabilitation. These treatments do not seem to be as effective as pharmacotherapy and are not likely to have the same degree of effectiveness. The more complex regimens are usually not adhered to, and patients are advised to start with a low dosage of medication that can be easily coupled with the use of behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD discover that psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, helps them improve their lives. Certain studies suggest that talk therapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or Relapse prevention therapy (RPT) can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. Talk therapy is a type of psychosocial treatment that consists of one-on-one sessions with a professional counselor or therapist. Different types of talk therapy exist, and your choice of the therapist you choose should be based on your needs and goals.
Combining medication and psychotherapy is a popular method to treat adult ADHD. Studies have demonstrated that combining psychotherapy and medication is more effective than either one alone. This method is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help you learn to deal with ADHD symptoms and manage the symptoms. It can also teach you strategies for dealing with difficulties in your work, relationships and school. Your therapist may suggest you attend individual, group or family therapy, based on your goals and requirements.
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps people with ADHD improve their functioning and self-esteem. CBT works by teaching you how to recognize and modify negative thoughts that influence your behavior and emotions. For instance, CBT can teach you to change "all or nothing" thinking which can lead people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything flawlessly or not at all.
In a session, your therapist will listen to your and ask questions to better understand your thoughts and emotions. They will then provide you with tips based on their experiences and research. You might also be assigned homework, like journaling or trying a different activity. You must complete your homework since it will help you put what you have learned into action.
It's important to remember that seeking treatment is not a sign of weakness. It's a courageous choice to live the life you've always wanted. With the structure and support that you build through psychotherapy, you can achieve your biggest goals and dreams.
Education
Education can be a beneficial method for adults suffering from ADHD. Classes can be taught to improve communication skills, to learn to organize tasks and to learn how to communicate with other people. It is beneficial to focus on teaching patients how to recognize symptoms and how they impact their behavior. This can be done in a private session or group therapy.
Research has shown that various psychosocial interventions can significantly reduce symptoms that cause problems and improve performance in people with ADHD. These include educational interventions, which can improve academic achievement and self-report of ADHD symptoms. Many behavioral 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 controls. Further replication is needed to verify the results.
In a study, an educational program that taught students to identify their own inattention and impulsive behavior was discovered to be more effective than a waitlist control for improving self-reports of ADHD symptoms. Another study revealed that a daily behavioral report card helped improve academic performance of children suffering from ADHD. It has been established that training for parents to be a behavioral one can be effective in reducing negative parental behaviors and increasing positive family function. However, the results of self-directed versus therapist-led training need further exploration.
Adolescents who have ADHD are at a greater risk danger of driving accidents that result from impaired thinking, like crashes that result in injury or death. Intense summer "bridge" programs have been proven to enhance driving skills in adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions that have been proven to be effective include central executive training and working memory training.
Adults with ADHD have difficulty maintaining stable relationships or jobs. Inability to finish tasks or keep on track poor organizational skills, impulsive or inattentive behaviors can strain the patience of colleagues, coworkers and family members. Psychotherapy that assists patients in improving their communication skills can help them manage these issues. Couples counseling helps partners manage issues that arise.
Counseling
Although medication is effective for a lot of people suffering from ADHD however, it isn't always sufficient to treat all symptoms. Medications can be unpredictable and trigger adverse effects that affect some people in different ways. Counseling is therefore an essential part of the overall treatment. Counseling can help people find better ways to manage their emotions, improve their relationships build self-esteem and develop strategies to face the unique challenges associated with living with ADHD.
Numerous randomized controlled studies have proven the effectiveness of psychosocial treatment for ADHD. untreated adhd in adults depression found that when a combination of behavioral therapy and medication is employed, both the parents and students' perceptions of academic functioning improves. In addition, studies have demonstrated that using an extremely low dose of stimulant medications in conjunction with behavioral therapy improves classroom behavior and homework performance in comparison to a control.
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 with an initial course of low dose medication. The results suggest that a sequential, multi-assignment, randomized trial may be an effective method of bridging the gap between research findings and actual practices in school-based programs for ADHD.
Before attempting to take medication for ADHD, it is recommended that schools implement ADHD intervention which includes behavior education and parent education. A combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy interventions should be the primary option for treating adults and adolescents. The first medication for adults and adolescents should be stimulants such as dexamphetamine or methylphenidate, except that other health conditions prevent them from taking these medications. In these instances the use of atomoxetine or guanfacine could be considered.
A thorough medical exam should be performed to determine if there are any other conditions that could affect learning and functioning, such as neurological disorders (such Tourette's Syndrome, epilepsy 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 are not remarkable, a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD with established diagnostic criteria, if they find nothing unusual.