Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that affect their home, work and relationships. The most common treatments are medication, skill-training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine is also referred to as Strattera is the sole FDA approved non-stimulant medication that is approved to treat adult ADHD. It is safe and effective, according to research. Psychosocial interventions that focus on organizational skills and comorbid conditions have a strong evidence base particularly behavioral parent training (BPT). It is difficult to provide specific psychosocial guidelines.
Medication
For many people suffering from ADHD, a combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best way to manage their symptoms. Medication has been shown to be highly effective in improving symptoms of ADHD, but it can take some time for people to see results. Consult your physician if you're considering using medication to treat your ADHD symptoms. Make sure that it's safe for you, and that it won't interact with other medications you take.
People with ADHD have difficulty with focusing and concentrating, controlling impulses planning and finishing tasks in a timely manner. These issues can have a negative impact on work, school and social relationships. These difficulties can also make it difficult to relax and take advantage of leisure activities.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is medication. They can reduce or eliminate the requirement for psychosocial interventions and can improve a person’s quality of living. Fortunately, they don't cause addiction and carry an extremely low risk of abuse. Several studies have shown that those with ADHD benefit from stimulants. If you are not able to handle the adverse effects of stimulant medications may choose non-stimulants such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medication is not the solution. A thorough assessment should include a detailed history of symptoms and a description of the impact of ADHD symptoms on the person's daily life. It should also be able to identify if the person suffers from any other comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, which could affect the response to therapy and medication.
A medical exam does typically not reveal any indications of the condition. Instead, a diagnosis is based upon clinical judgement, and an history of symptoms that started in the earliest years of childhood. In addition to a thorough interview, collateral information like medical records from schools and child health assessments can be helpful in diagnosing the condition.
Many psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available such as metacognition, cognitive rehabilitation, and working memory training. These psychosocial treatments don't appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy and are not likely to have the same effectiveness. The more complex regimens are usually not adhered to and patients are advised to begin with a lower dosage of medication that can be easily mixed with therapy for behavioral issues.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD find that psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help to improve their lives. Some studies suggest that certain types of talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Relapse prevention therapy (RPT) can alleviate symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is a form of psychosocial treatment that involves sessions with a trained therapist or counselor. Different kinds of talk therapy are available and the choice of the therapist you choose should be based on your specific needs and goals.
Combining psychotherapy and medication is a common method to treat adult ADHD. Studies have shown that combining psychotherapy and medication is more effective than either one by itself. This approach is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Talk therapy, or psychotherapy can help you manage your ADHD symptoms and learn strategies for coping. It can teach you how to manage issues at work, school, and relationship life. Based on your goals and needs, your therapist may recommend that you attend individual or family therapy.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that helps adults suffering from ADHD to boost their self-esteem as well as functioning. CBT will help you recognize negative thoughts and modify them, which can impact your behavior and emotions. CBT for instance can help you learn to overcome "all-or-nothing" thinking that makes people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything perfect or not at all.
In a therapy session your therapist listens to you and asks questions to gain a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings. The therapist will then give you suggestions based on their knowledge and experience. You may also be given homework, such as journaling or trying a different activity. You should do your homework since it will assist you in putting what have learned into practice.
linked resource site is important to remember that seeking treatment does not mean you are weak. It's a bold move to live the life you deserve. With the structure and support, as well as the skills that you build through psychotherapy, it is possible to attain your most important goals and dreams.
Education
Education can be an effective tool to help adults with ADHD. It can be used to teach organizational skills, methods to prepare for tasks, and ways to improve the way one talks and listens to other people. Therapy that focuses on helping the patient to identify their symptoms and how they affect behavior could also be beneficial. This can be done in private sessions or through group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that a variety of psychosocial interventions can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD individuals and improve their performance. These include educational interventions, which can improve academic achievement and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Many cognitive and behavioral treatments have been proven to be effective. They include hypnotherapy and neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proven to be superior to alternatives. Further studies are needed to verify the results.
In the course of a study, a program that taught students to identify their own impulsive and inattentive behavior was found to be more effective than a waitlist control program in improving self-report ADHD symptoms. A daily behavior report card was found to boost academic performance for children with ADHD in a separate study. Behavioral parent training has been shown to be effective in reducing negative parenting behavior and promoting positive family functioning, but the impact of self-directed parenting versus therapist-led parental training needs further exploration.
Adolescents with ADHD are at a higher risk of impaired driving outcomes such as crashes resulting in injury or death. Intense summer "bridge" programs have been proven to enhance driving skills among adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have also been proven to be beneficial including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults with ADHD struggle to maintain stable relationships or jobs. Inability to organize their lives, inability to complete or finish tasks, and impulsive and inattentive behavior can leave coworkers and family members angry. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve their communication skills can help them deal with these issues. The same is true for couples counseling which teaches partners how to deal with each other's problems as they occur.
Counseling
Although medications are effective for a large number of people suffering from ADHD but it is not always enough to eliminate all symptoms. The side effects of medications are not always predictable, and they may affect some individuals in a different way. Counseling is therefore a crucial component of the treatment plan. Counseling can help people find better ways to manage their emotions, improve their relationships, build self-esteem and learn strategies to face the unique challenges associated with living with ADHD.
Numerous randomized controlled studies have proven the efficacy of psychosocial therapy for ADHD. In some studies, the academic performance of both the parents and students improved when a combination medication and behavioral therapy was used. In addition, studies have found that using a low dose of stimulant medication in combination with behavioral therapy can improve the behavior of students in class and their homework performance in comparison to a control.
In a recent research study, high school counselors were taught to implement two brief homework and organizational interventions for students suffering from ADHD. These interventions were compared to 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 practice in school-based interventions for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions that include behavior education and parental education, before trying medication. A combination of pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions should be the primary line of treatment for adults and adolescents. For adults and adolescents the first drug to be considered should be stimulants (methylphenidate dexamphetamine, dexamphetamine or lisdexam) as long as they are able to use these drugs due to health issues. In such cases, atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical exam should be performed to rule out other disorders that could affect learning and functioning, including neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome or cerebral palsy) as well as nutrition issues as well as substance use disorder (SUD) chronic illnesses like asthma, and comorbid psychological disorders. If the examination and history aren't particularly remarkable, a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD using established diagnostic criteria if they discover no unusual findings.