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Evidence Based Treatment For ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect someone's work, family life and relationships. The most common treatments are medications, skill training and psychological counseling.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is the only FDA-approved, non-stimulant medication for adult ADHD. Studies have proven that it is effective and has low potential for abuse. Psychosocial interventions addressing the comorbid disorder and organizational skills have a strong scientific basis including behavioral parent training (BPT). However, accuracy in psychosocial guidelines is difficult to attain.
Medication
For many people with ADHD it is believed that a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment is the best approach to manage their symptoms. Medical treatment has been proven to be highly effective in improving symptoms of ADHD however, it may take a while for someone to see results. Consult your physician in the event that 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 suffering from ADHD struggle with staying focused and concentrating, regulating impulses making plans and accomplishing tasks on time. These difficulties can affect school, work and social interactions. These difficulties can also make it difficult to relax and enjoy leisure activities.
Medications are the most effective evidence-based treatment for ADHD. Medications are able to reduce or eliminate the requirement for psychosocial interventions and improve a person’s quality of life. Fortunately, medication does not create addiction and carry a low risk of abuse. A number of studies have demonstrated that those with ADHD benefit from the use of stimulants. Non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine, also known as Strattera, are available for those who are unable to tolerate stimulant side effects.
Medication is only part of the solution. A thorough assessment should include a thorough description of ADHD symptoms and the impact they have on daily functioning. It should also be able to identify if the patient has any other comorbidities like depression or anxiety, which may impact the response to therapy and medications.
Medical examination usually does not reveal any signs of the disorder, and a diagnosis is based on clinical judgement, with an evident history of symptoms that began in the age of three to. A detailed interview can be beneficial when paired with other information, like medical records from schools or child health assessments.
Many psychosocial treatments for ADHD are available that include cognitive remediation, metacognition and working memory training. These psychosocial treatments don't appear to be as effective as pharmacotherapy, and are unlikely to have the same level effectiveness. Complex regimens are not always adhered to and patients are advised to start with a lower dose of medication that can be easily mixed with behavioral therapy.
Psychotherapy
Many people suffering from ADHD discover that psychotherapy, or talk therapy, helps 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 kind 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 will depend on your goals and preferences.
Combining psychotherapy and medication is a common method to treat adult ADHD. Studies have proven that combining medication and psychotherapy is more effective than any method alone. This approach is also recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you cope with ADHD symptoms and manage these symptoms. It can also teach you strategies for dealing with issues in your relationships, work, and school life. Your therapist might suggest that you attend individual, group or family therapy, based on your needs and goals.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps adults with ADHD to improve their self-esteem and performance. CBT is a method of teaching you how to recognize and modify negative thoughts that can affect your emotions and behaviors. For instance, CBT can teach you to alter your "all or nothing" thinking, which can cause people with ADHD to believe that they must do everything flawlessly or not at all.
In the course of a session, your therapist will listen to your and ask questions to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. The therapist will then offer you advice based upon their knowledge and experience. They may also assign you assignments, like journaling or trying something new. It is important to complete your homework since it will assist you in putting what have learned into action.
It's important to keep in mind that seeking treatment is not an indication of weakness. It's a courageous choice to live the life you deserve. You can achieve your goals and dreams by utilizing psychotherapy.
Education
Education can be a powerful instrument to assist adults with ADHD. visit this web page link can be used to teach organizational skills, methods to prepare for tasks, and methods to improve the way one talks and listens to others. It can be helpful to focus on teaching patients how to recognize symptoms and how these affect their behavior. This can be done either in individual sessions or group therapy.
Research has demonstrated that a variety of psychosocial interventions can help to reduce symptoms that are problematic for ADHD people and enhance their functioning. Educational interventions can enhance academic performance and self-reporting of ADHD symptoms. Many cognitive and behavioral treatments have been proven to be efficient. These include hypnotherapy as well as neurofeedback. However, not all of them have been proven to be superior to controls and the results require further replication.
In one study, a program that taught students to recognize their own inattention and impulsive behaviors was discovered 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 in children with ADHD in another study. Training for parents to be more observant has been shown to be effective in decreasing negative parenting behavior and promoting positive family functioning, however the effects of self-directed versus therapist-led parental training needs more research.
Adolescents with ADHD are at a high danger of driving accidents that result from impaired thinking, such as crashes resulting in injuries or even death. The intensive summer "bridge" program has been shown to improve driving skills in adolescents suffering from ADHD. Other psychosocial interventions have been found to be helpful such as central executive training and training for working memory.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty maintaining an enduring job or relationship. Poor organizational skills and inability to finish or follow through on tasks and inattention and impulsive behavior can make co-workers and family members angry. Psychotherapy that teaches patients to improve communication skills can help them manage these challenges. The same is true for couples counseling which teaches partners how to deal with each other's problems when they occur.
Counseling
While medication is beneficial for many people suffering from ADHD it does not always reduce the symptoms in all cases. The effects of medication can be unpredictable and cause negative side effects that affect certain individuals in a variety of ways. This is why counseling is a crucial element of the overall treatment plan. Counseling can help people find better ways to manage their emotions, improve relationships build self-esteem and develop strategies to deal with the unique challenges of living with ADHD.
Numerous randomized controlled studies have proven the effectiveness of psychosocial treatment for ADHD. Certain studies have shown that when the combination of behavioral therapy and medication is employed, both the student and parent-report of academic performance improves. Studies have also shown that medications that are low doses of stimulant combined with behavioral therapy improved both classroom behavior and homework performance when compared to a control group.
In a recent study, high school counselors were trained to implement two short homework and organizational interventions for students with ADHD. These interventions were compared to an initial course of medication that was low dose. The results indicate that a sequential multi-assignment randomized trial may be a feasible way to overcome the gap between research and practice in school-based intervention for ADHD.
Before attempting medication it is recommended that schools implement ADHD intervention, which includes behavior training and parent education. For adolescents and adults the first course of treatment should consist of psychosocial and pharmacotherapy. For adults and adolescents, the first medication should be stimulants (methylphenidate dexamphetamine, dexamphetamine or lisdexam), unless they cannot take these drugs due to health conditions. In such cases, atomoxetine or guanfacine can be considered.
A thorough medical exam must be performed to determine the presence of any other disorder that could affect learning and performance, for example neurological disorders (such epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome or cerebral palsy) or nutritional issues as well as substance abuse disorder (SUD) chronic diseases such as asthma, and comorbid mental disorders. If the examination and history are unremarkable the diagnosis of ADHD can be made by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist based on established diagnostic criteria.
