Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect someone's work, home life and relationships. Treatment options include medication, skill-training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine is also known as Strattera is the sole FDA approved non-stimulant medication that is approved to treat adult ADHD. It is safe and effective, as per research. Psychosocial interventions that target the comorbidities and organizational skills have a strong evidence base, notably BPT, which is a form of behavioral parent education (BPT). It is difficult to give specific psychosocial guidelines.
Medication
For many people with ADHD it is believed that a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment is the best method to manage their symptoms. It may take some time for someone to see any improvement in their ADHD symptoms. If you are considering taking medication to improve your ADHD symptoms, speak to your doctor to confirm that it is safe for you and does not interfere with other medications you're taking.
People suffering from ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, controlling their impulses, making plans and accomplishing tasks on time. These issues can have a negative impact on work, school, and social relationships. They can also make it difficult to take time out and unwind.
Medications are the most effective treatments based on scientific evidence for ADHD. They can reduce or eliminate the need for psychosocial interventions and enhance the quality of life. Fortunately, medications are not addictive and they have very low risks of misuse. People suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from stimulants, based on various studies. People who are unable to tolerate the adverse effects of stimulant medications may choose non-stimulants such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medication is only part of the solution. A thorough assessment should include a detailed description of ADHD symptoms and the impact they have on everyday functioning. It is also important to determine if the person suffers from any other comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, that could affect the effectiveness of treatment and medications.
A medical examination does not usually reveal any signs of the condition. Instead, a diagnosis is based on clinical judgment, and the history of symptoms that began in the earliest years of childhood. A thorough interview may be useful in conjunction with other information, like medical records from schools or child health assessments.
There are a myriad of psychosocial therapies available for ADHD, including cognitive remediation and metacognition. However, none of these seem to be more effective than psychotherapy, and aren't likely to achieve the same level of effectiveness as a well-dosed medication. Patients are advised to begin with a low-dose medication that can be paired with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people with ADHD discover that talk therapy or psychotherapy can help them enhance their lives. Some studies suggest that certain forms of talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Relapse prevention therapy (RPT) can reduce symptoms of ADHD. Talk therapy is psychosocial treatment which involves individual sessions with a trained therapist or counselor. Different types of talk therapy are available, and your choice of the therapist you choose should be based on your specific needs and goals.
Combining psychotherapy and medication is a popular method to treat adult ADHD. Studies have shown that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than any method alone. The National Institute of Mental Health also recommends this method.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you to deal with ADHD symptoms and manage them. It can teach you strategies for dealing with problems in your relationships, work, and school life. Your therapist may suggest you attend group, individual or family therapy based on your needs and goals.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps adults suffering from ADHD to boost their self-esteem as well as functioning. CBT is a method of teaching you how to recognize and alter negative thoughts, which can influence your behavior and emotions. CBT for instance, can teach you how to alter your "all-or-nothing" thinking that can cause people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything perfect or not at all.
During an appointment the counselor will listen to you and ask questions to better understand your thoughts and emotions. They will then offer suggestions based on their experience and research. You may also be given homework, such as journaling or attempting a new activity. It's crucial to complete homework because it will allow you to apply what you've learned.
It is important to remember that seeking treatment isn't an indication of weakness. It's a bold move to live the life you deserve. With the structure and support, as well as the skills gained through psychotherapy, it is possible to achieve your biggest goals and ambitions.
Education
Education can be an effective tool for adults suffering from ADHD. Education can include classes to teach organization skills, how to prepare for work, and ways to improve the way one speaks and listens to others. Therapy that focuses on teaching the patient to be aware of their symptoms and how they impact their behavior could also be beneficial. This can be accomplished in a private session or group therapy.
Research has proven that a variety psychosocial interventions can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD individuals and improve their performance. Educational interventions can help improve academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Many cognitive and behavioral therapies have been proven to be efficient. They include hypnotherapy and neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proven to be superior to the controls and the results need further replication.
In a study, an educational program that taught students to recognize their own impulsive and inattentive behaviors was found to be more effective than waitlist control for improving self-report ADHD symptoms. A daily report card for behavior was found to improve academic performance for children with ADHD in a different study. It has been proven that training for parents to be a behavioral one is effective in reducing negative parental behaviors and increasing positive family function. However, the results of therapist-led and self-directed training need further exploration.
Adolescents with ADHD are at a greater risk chance of having impaired driving outcomes like crashes that cause injury or death. The intensive summer "bridge" program has been proven to improve driving skills in adolescents suffering from ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions that have been found to be useful include central executive training and working memory training.
Adults with ADHD frequently have difficulty maintaining a stable job or relationships. Inability to finish tasks or follow through in a timely manner, lack of organizational skills and inattention or impulsive behavior can make it difficult for co-workers, colleagues and family members. Psychotherapy that helps patients improve their communication skills can aid in overcoming these difficulties. My Home Page is also true for couples counseling, which teaches partners how to deal with each other's issues when they arise.
Counseling
While medications can be beneficial for a lot of people with ADHD but it doesn't always alleviate the symptoms in all cases. Medications can be unpredictable and cause adverse effects that affect some individuals in a variety of ways. This is why counseling is a crucial element of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can be used to assist people in learning to better manage their emotions, establish relationships, and increase self-esteem.
Multiple studies that have been randomized controlled have proven the efficacy of psychosocial treatment for ADHD. Some studies found that when a combination of behavioral therapy and medication is employed, both the parents and students' ratings of academic functioning improves. Additionally, studies have shown that the use of the use of a small dose of stimulant medication with behavioral therapy improves both academic performance and classroom behavior in comparison to a control.
In a recent study high school counselors were trained to implement two short homework and organization interventions for students with ADHD. The two interventions were compared to an initial course of low dose medication. The results indicate that a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial could be a feasible way to overcome 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 medication. For adults and adolescents, the first treatment should be a combination of psychosocial interventions and pharmacotherapy. For adults and adolescents the first drug to be considered should be stimulants (methylphenidate, dexamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine) as long as they are able to use these medications due to any other health conditions. In long-term effects of untreated adhd in adults , atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical exam should be performed to determine the presence of any other disorder that may interfere with 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 illnesses like asthma, and other comorbid mental disorders. If the exam and history are not revealing, a diagnosis of ADHD is made by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist based on established diagnostic criteria.