Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD affects people in ways that impact 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 drug for adult ADHD. Studies have proven that it is effective and has low potential for abuse. Psychosocial interventions that focus on organizational skills and comorbid conditions have a solid scientific basis including the behavioral parent training (BPT). However, the precision of psychosocial guidelines is a challenge to achieve.
Medication
Many people with ADHD discover that a combination of psychosocial therapy and medication is best for managing their symptoms. Medication has been shown to be extremely effective in improving 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. Make sure it's safe for you and doesn't interfere with other medications that you take.
People with ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, controlling their impulses, making plans and finishing tasks on time. These issues can have a negative impact on work, school and social relationships. They can make it difficult to take pleasure in leisure activities and relax.
Medications are the most effective evidence-based treatment for ADHD. The use of medications can reduce or eliminate the requirement for psychosocial interventions and can improve a person’s quality of life. Fortunately, medications do not create addiction and carry the lowest chance of being misused. Several studies have shown that people with ADHD benefit from the use of stimulants. Those who cannot tolerate the side effects of stimulant medication can choose non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medication is only part of the answer. A thorough assessment should include a history of symptoms and a description of the effects of ADHD symptoms on a person's everyday functioning. It is essential to determine if the individual is suffering from any co-morbid conditions such as anxiety or depression which could impact the response to medication and treatment.
A medical examination will not usually reveal any signs of the condition. Instead, a diagnosis is based on a clinical judgment, and the history of symptoms that began in childhood. A thorough interview may be useful in conjunction with other information, such as medical records from schools or child health assessments.
There are many psychosocial treatments available for ADHD, including metacognition and cognitive remediation. These psychosocial treatments do not appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy and are unlikely to have the same effectiveness. Patients are advised to start with a low dose medication that is able to be combined with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD find that talking therapy or psychotherapy helps them improve their life. Certain studies suggest that talk therapy, like 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 with a trained counselor or therapist. Different modalities of talk therapy are available and the choice of therapist should be based on your needs and goals.
A common method of treating adult ADHD is using the combination of medication and psychotherapy. Studies have proven that combining psychotherapy and medication is more effective than one on its own. untreated adhd in adults relationships is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you manage ADHD symptoms and manage these symptoms. It can teach you how to manage issues in your work, school and in your relationship. Based on your goals and needs, your therapist may recommend that you participate in individual, family, or group therapy.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of psychotherapy which can help adults suffering from ADHD to improve 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. For instance, CBT can teach you to change "all or nothing" thinking that can cause people with ADHD to believe that they must perform everything perfectly or not at all.
In an appointment the therapist will listen to you and ask questions to understand your thoughts and feelings. The therapist will then offer you advice based upon their research and experience. They might also provide you with homework assignments, such as journaling or trying something new. It's crucial to complete the homework as it will help you practice what you've learned.
It's important to keep in mind that seeking treatment doesn't mean you are weak. In fact, it's a courageous step toward living the life you deserve. You can accomplish your goals and ambitions with the help of psychotherapy.
Education
Education can be a powerful instrument to assist adults with ADHD. It can be used to teach organizational skills, methods to prepare for tasks, and ways to improve the way someone speaks and listens to others. Therapy that focuses on teaching the patient to recognize their symptoms and how they affect behavior could also be beneficial. This can be done in individual sessions or through group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that a variety of psychosocial interventions can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD people and enhance their functioning. Educational interventions can enhance academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Different behavioral and cognitive treatments have been proven to be effective, including hypnotherapy, neurofeedback, metacognitive training, and cognitive remediation. However none of them have been proven to be superior over alternatives. Further studies are needed to verify the results.
In a study, a program that taught students to recognize their own impulsive and inattentive behavior was discovered to be more effective than waitlist control for improving self-reports of ADHD symptoms. A daily report card on behavior was discovered to improve academic performance for children with ADHD in another 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 effects of therapist-led versus self-directed training need further exploration.
Adolescents who have ADHD are at a greater risk chance of having impaired driving outcomes like crashes that result in injury or death. Intensive summer "bridge" programs have been proven to improve 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 frequently have difficulty maintaining stability in their jobs or relationships. Inability to organize their lives, inability to complete or finish tasks, and impulsive and inattentive behavior can cause coworkers and family members unhappy. Psychotherapy that teaches patients to improve communication skills can help them deal with these difficulties. Couples counseling can help partners deal with problems that arise.
Counseling
While medication is effective for many people with ADHD but it doesn't always alleviate all symptoms. Medications can be unpredictable and cause adverse effects that affect some individuals in a variety of ways. Counseling is therefore a crucial element of the treatment plan. Counseling can help patients discover better methods to manage their emotions, improve relationships build self-esteem and develop strategies to deal with the unique challenges that come with living with ADHD.
Numerous randomized controlled studies have proven the effectiveness of psychosocial therapy for ADHD. A few studies showed that when the combination of medication and behavioral therapy is employed, both the parents and students' ratings of academic performance improves. Additionally, research has found that using an extremely low dose of stimulant medications in conjunction with behavioral therapy improves both the behavior of students in class and their homework performance in comparison to a control.
In a recent study high school counselors were trained on how to implement two brief homework and organizational interventions for ADHD students. The interventions were compared with an initial course of low dose medication. The results indicate that a sequential multi-assignment randomized trial could be an effective method to bridge the gap between research and practice in school-based intervention for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions, which include behavior training and education for parents, prior to trying medications. For adults and adolescents, the first treatment should consist of a combination of psychosocial interventions and pharmacotherapy. The first medications for adults and adolescents must be stimulants, such as dexamphetamine or methylphenidate, unless any other health issues prevent the use of these drugs. In these situations, atomoxetine and guanfacine are alternatives.
A thorough medical examination should be conducted to determine the presence of any other disorder that might affect learning and performance, for example neurological disorders (such Tourette's Syndrome, epilepsy, or cerebral palsy) as well as nutritional issues as well as substance abuse disorder (SUD), chronic diseases such as asthma, and comorbid mental disorders. If the examination and history are not remarkable the psychiatrist or psychologist may be able to diagnose ADHD using established diagnostic criteria, if they find nothing unusual.