Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can impact a person's home life, work and relationships. Treatment options include medication, skill-training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved non-stimulant drug for adult ADHD. It is safe and effective, based on research. Psychosocial interventions that address the comorbid disorder and organizational skills have a solid evidence base, particularly behavioral parent training (BPT). It is difficult to give specific psychosocial guidelines.
Medication
For many people with ADHD it is believed that a combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best way to manage their symptoms. It can take time before someone can see any improvement in their ADHD symptoms. Consult your doctor in the event that you're considering taking medication to help improve your ADHD symptoms. Make sure that it's suitable for you, and that it doesn't interact with other medications you take.
People suffering from ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, regulating impulses making plans and completing tasks on time. These issues can impact school, work and social interactions. They can make it difficult for people to enjoy leisure activities and take time to relax.
Medications are the most effective evidence-based treatment for ADHD. Medications can reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions and they can greatly improve a person's quality of life. Fortunately, they don't cause addiction and carry an extremely low risk of abuse. A number of studies have demonstrated that those with ADHD benefit from the use of stimulants. If you are not able to handle the side effects of stimulant medications can opt for non-stimulants like 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 everyday functioning. It is also important to determine if the person suffers from any comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety, which may impact the effectiveness of therapy and medication.
Medical examinations usually do not reveal any signs of the disorder, and a diagnosis is made on clinical judgement, with an established history of symptoms that began in the age of three to. A thorough interview can be useful in conjunction with additional information, such as school records or child health assessments.
Many psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available, including metacognition, cognitive remediation and working memory training. These psychosocial treatments don't appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy, and are not likely to have the same level effectiveness. Complex regimens are not always followed and patients are advised to start with a low dose of medication that can be easily combined 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 kinds of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Relapse prevention therapy (RPT), can help to reduce symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is a form of psychosocial treatment which involves one-on-one sessions between a professional counselor or therapist. There are different types of therapy that can be used and the therapist you select should be based upon your goals and requirements.
A common method of treating adult ADHD is to employ a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Studies have proven that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than any method by itself. The National Institute of Mental Health also recommends this method.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can help you manage your ADHD symptoms and develop strategies for coping. It can also teach you strategies for dealing with issues in your work, relationships and school. Your therapist may suggest you attend group, individual or family therapy, based on your goals and requirements.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of psychotherapy which can help adults suffering from ADHD to boost their self-esteem as well as functioning. CBT teaches you how to recognize negative thoughts and modify them, which can affect your mood and behavior. CBT for instance can help you to change "all-or-nothing" thinking that can cause people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything perfect or not at all.
During a therapy session, your therapy therapist listens to you and asks questions to gain a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings. The therapist will then give you advice based upon their research and experience. You may also be given homework, such as journaling or attempting a new activity. You should do your homework because it will assist you in putting what have learned into practice.
It's important to remember that seeking treatment does not necessarily mean you're weak. It's a brave move to live the life you deserve. With the structure, support, and skills that you build through psychotherapy, you can achieve your biggest goals and dreams.
Education
Education can be an effective tool for adults with ADHD. Classes can be taught to improve communication skills, to learn how to organize tasks, and to learn to communicate with other people. It can be beneficial to concentrate on teaching patients how to recognize symptoms and how these affect their behavior. This can be accomplished in individual sessions or through group therapy.
Research has proven that various psychosocial interventions can dramatically reduce symptoms that cause problems and improve functioning in individuals with ADHD. These include educational interventions that can boost academic performance and self-report of ADHD symptoms. Many behavioral and cognitive treatments have been proven to be effective. These include hypnotherapy as well as neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proved to be superior to control methods and the results require more research.
In an investigation it was found that a school program that taught students to recognize their own inattention or impulsive behavior was more effective than waiting for an inventory to improve self-reported ADHD symptoms. Another study showed that a daily behavior report card improved academic performance of children suffering from ADHD. Training for parents to be more observant has been proven effective in decreasing negative parenting behaviors and enhancing positive family functioning, however the effect of self-directed training for parents versus therapist-led parenting needs more research.
Adolescents who suffer from ADHD are at high risk of impaired driving outcomes, including accidents that cause injury or death. The intensive summer "bridge" program has been shown to improve the driving abilities of adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have also been discovered to be beneficial including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults with ADHD have difficulty maintaining stable jobs or relationships. Inability to manage their time, inability to complete or finish tasks, and impulsive and inattentive behavior can leave coworkers and family members frustrated. Psychotherapy that teaches patients to improve their communication skills can help them manage these issues. The same can be said for couples counseling which assists partners in dealing with each other's problems when they arise.
Counseling
While medication is beneficial for many people suffering from ADHD however, it is not always able to reduce all symptoms. Medicines can be unpredictably effective and can cause adverse effects that affect some people in different ways. This is why counseling is an important component of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can be used to aid people in learning how to better manage their emotions, build relationships, and improve self-esteem.
effects of untreated adhd in adults of psychosocial therapies for ADHD has been proven through multiple randomized controlled trials. In certain studies, academic functioning of both students and parents improved when a combination of medication and behavioral therapy was used. Studies have also proven that a low dose stimulant medication coupled with behavioral therapy can improve the behavior of students in class and homework performance when compared to a comparison group.
In a recent study high school counselors received training on how to implement two brief homework and organization interventions with ADHD students. These interventions were compared with an initial course of low dose medication. The results indicate that a sequential multi-assignment trial that is randomized could be an effective method to bridge the gap between research and practice in school-based intervention for ADHD.
Before attempting to take medication, it is recommended that schools implement ADHD intervention, which includes behavior training and education for parents. A combination of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy interventions should be the primary line of treatment for adolescents and adults. The first medications for adults and adolescents must be stimulants such as dexamphetamine or methylphenidate, unless any other health issues prevent them from taking these drugs. In these situations, atomoxetine and guanfacine are alternatives.
A thorough medical exam should be performed to rule out any other conditions that could affect learning and functioning, including neurological disorders (such as Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy or cerebral palsy) as well as nutrition issues, substance use disorder (SUD), chronic illnesses like asthma and comorbid psychological 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.