Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect 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 medication for adults with ADHD. It is safe and effective, as per research. Psychosocial interventions addressing organizational skills and comorbid disorders have a strong evidence base including behavioral parent training (BPT). However, the precision of psychosocial guidelines is not easy to achieve.
Medication
For many people suffering from ADHD, a combination of psychosocial treatment and medication is the best way to manage their symptoms. The use of medication has been proven to be extremely efficient in reducing symptoms of ADHD, but it can take a while for someone to see results. If you're thinking of using medication to treat your ADHD symptoms, talk to your doctor to ensure that it is suitable for you and does not interfere with other medications you are taking.
People suffering from ADHD have trouble focusing and concentrating, controlling their impulses making plans and accomplishing tasks in a timely manner. These issues can impact work, school and social interactions. They can also make it difficult to enjoy leisure activities and take time to relax.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is medication. Medications can reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions, and can significantly enhance a person's quality of life. Fortunately, they don't cause addiction and carry the lowest chance of being misused. People suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulants, as per several studies. People who are unable to tolerate the side effects of stimulant medications can choose non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Treatment isn't the only answer. A thorough assessment should include a history of symptoms and a discussion of the effects of ADHD symptoms on a person's daily functioning. It is important to determine if the individual has any co-morbid conditions such as depression or anxiety that could affect the effectiveness of medication and therapy.
Medical examinations usually do not reveal signs of the disorder, and a diagnosis is made on clinical judgement, with an established history of symptoms that began in the time of birth to. A detailed interview can be useful in conjunction with additional information, like school records or health assessments.
Many psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available, including metacognition, cognitive rehabilitation, and working memory training. However, they do not seem to be superior to psychotherapy, and aren't likely to be as effective of effectiveness as a dosed medication. Patients are advised to start with a low-dose medication that can be combined with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people with ADHD discover that psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help to improve their lives. Certain studies suggest that talking therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or relapse prevention treatment (RPT) can help reduce ADHD symptoms. Talk therapy is a psychosocial treatment that involves sessions with a professional therapist or counselor. Different types of therapy are available and your choice of therapist should be based on your needs and goals.
A typical approach to treating adult ADHD is to employ the combination of medication and psychotherapy. Studies have demonstrated that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than either method alone. 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 coping skills. It can help you learn how to manage issues in your school, work, and relationship life. Depending on your needs and goals, your therapist may recommend that you attend individual, family, or group therapy.
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that can help adults with ADHD improve their self-esteem and functioning. CBT is a method of teaching you how to recognize and alter negative thoughts that can influence your mood and behavior. CBT for instance can help you to overcome "all-or-nothing" thinking which can make people with ADHD believe that they must be doing everything perfectly or not at all.
In a therapy session your therapist listens to you and asks questions to better understand your thoughts and feelings. The therapist will then offer you advice based upon their research and experience. You may also be given homework, like journaling or trying a different activity. You must complete your homework because it will help you put what you have learned into practice.
It is important to remember that seeking treatment does not mean that you're weak. In fact, it's a courageous step toward living the life you've always wanted. You can accomplish your goals and dreams with the help of psychotherapy.
Education
Education can be a powerful instrument to assist adults with ADHD. Education may include classes that teach organization skills, how to prepare for tasks, and methods to improve the way one speaks and listens to other people. Therapy that focuses on teaching the patient to recognize their symptoms and how they impact their behavior can be helpful. This can be accomplished in individual sessions or through group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that many psychosocial interventions can significantly reduce symptoms that cause problems and improve the functioning of people with ADHD. These include educational interventions, which can boost academic performance and self-report of ADHD symptoms. A variety of behavioral and cognitive therapies have been shown to be effective, such as hypnotherapy, metacognitive training, neurofeedback and cognitive remediation. However none of them have been proved to be superior to controls and the results need further replication.
In view it now , an educational program that taught students to identify their own impulsive and inattentive behaviors was found to be more effective than waitlist control program in improving self-report of ADHD symptoms. Another study found that a daily behavioral report card improved academic performance in children with ADHD. It has been established that behavioral parent training is effective in decreasing negative parental behavior and enhancing positive family functioning. However, the effects of therapist-led versus self-directed training require further investigation.
Adolescents suffering from ADHD are at risk for impaired driving outcomes, such as accidents that cause injuries or even death. Intensive summer "bridge" programs have been proven to improve driving skills in adolescents with ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have been discovered to be beneficial, including central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults suffering from ADHD struggle to maintain stable jobs or relationships. Poor organizational skills, inability to complete or complete tasks and inattention and impulsive behavior can leave coworkers and family members angry. Psychotherapy that teaches patients to improve their communication skills can help them deal with these challenges. Couples counseling helps partners deal with problems that arise.
Counseling
While medication can be effective for many people with ADHD however, it is not always able to alleviate all symptoms. The effects of medication can be unpredictable and they can affect certain people in different ways. Therefore, counseling is an important component of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can help individuals find better methods to manage their emotions, improve their relationships build self-esteem and develop strategies to face the unique challenges that come with living with ADHD.
Multiple studies that have been randomized controlled have proven the effectiveness of psychosocial treatment for ADHD. Some studies found that when the combination of medication and behavioral therapy is employed, both the parents and students' ratings of academic performance improves. Studies have also shown that the use of a low dose stimulant combined with a behavioral therapy program improved the behavior of students in class as well as the performance on homework when compared to a comparison group.
In a recent research study, high school counselors were instructed to implement two brief homework and organization interventions for students with ADHD. These interventions were compared with an initial course of low dose medication. The results suggest that a continuous, multiple-assignment randomized trial could be a viable method of bridging the gap between research findings and implementation of school-based interventions for ADHD.
It is recommended that schools implement ADHD interventions, which include behavior training and parental education, before trying medications. For adults and adolescents, the first treatment should consist of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy. For adolescents and adults the first drug to be considered should be stimulants (methylphenidate dexamphetamine, dexamphetamine or lisdexam) in the event that they are unable to use these medications due to any other health issues. In these cases, atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical examination must be performed to rule out any other conditions that may affect your learning and functioning, including neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, or cerebral palsy) and nutrition-related issues and substance use disorders (SUD) chronic illnesses like asthma and comorbid psychological issues. If the history and examination aren't extraordinary, a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD using established diagnostic criteria if they discover nothing unusual.