Adult ADHD and Comorbid Disorders
Many people with ADHD also suffer from comorbid disorders, such as major depressive disorder (Kessler and colleagues 2006). Many patients are not responsive to medications for depression and may be able to benefit from psychotherapy.
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that regulate and boost levels of certain brain chemicals. Commonly prescribed holistic treatment for adhd include amphetamine, methylphenidate and similar medications.
Medications
A variety of medications used to treat ADHD in children can also be used in adults. The dosages and the side effects are different. The doctor will take a look at the medical history, family health history, and other conditions of an individual to determine which drug is the best for them.
The most commonly used kind of ADHD medication is a stimulant. Full Review works by adjusting levels of two chemical messengers within the brain, norepinephrine as well as dopamine. The stimulants like methylphenidate (also known as Adderall) and dextroamphetamine increase the availability of neurotransmitters, which help improve focus, reduce impulsivity and decrease aggression. These stimulants are available in different forms, such as liquids, skin patches and chewable tablets. Long-acting versions of these stimulants are preferred because they lead to greater patient compliance and a longer lasting and smoother improvement of symptoms.
It is important to be aware that comorbid conditions like depression or anxiety disorders can affect the response to ADHD medication. Therefore, it is recommended that these psychiatric issues be treated first before medication be used as a second measure. Medications that can be used to treat comorbid psychiatric disorders include atomoxetine and bupropion and tricyclic antidepressants (Wilens 2004).).
Certain patients may experience an "rebound" effect in which they experience an increase in ADHD symptoms after discontinuing stimulant medications. In these cases a short trial of a low dosage of stimulant medication could be beneficial.
Some people are unable tolerate stimulant medication or cannot use it due to drug misuse or other health issues such as severe hypertension or heart problems. In these situations, non-stimulant medication such as atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree) can be effective. These medications don't have the same adverse effects as stimulants and are less likely to be abused or diverted.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is a great option for people with ADHD. It can help those with ADHD to improve their lives, deal with stress and anxiety, resolve conflicts, or cope with problems at work or in relationships. It can also assist with co-existing mental disorders like addiction and depression disorders.
Talk therapies include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as well as mind-body cognitive therapy, and schema therapy. These therapies are based on the notion that thoughts and beliefs can influence how a person is feeling, thinks and behaves. CBT helps people recognize negative behaviors and thinking patterns, and then formulates and implements positive strategies to change these patterns. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy utilizes meditation techniques to help a person learn to focus on their emotions and thoughts, manage their impulses and improve their executive functioning. Schema therapy, as well as other forms of psychotherapy that focus on a person's family history, may be helpful for people suffering from ADHD.
In addition to medications psychotherapy can assist in addressing the specific issues that arise from ADHD like difficulty getting through schoolwork, resolving conflict and being able to get together with others, losing important dates or obligations and making impulsive choices that result in legal or financial problems. Psychotherapy can help someone overcome issues of the underlying nature, such as anxiety and depression that could be contributing to their ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy can help a person find healthy coping skills and reduce stress through exercise, sleep improvement and healthy eating habits. It can also provide support to the family member or spouse who is struggling with the effects ADHD has on their relationship. Family therapy and marriage counseling can help families and couples communicate better and understand how to manage ADHD symptoms together.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that is focused on helping clients change their negative thinking patterns. It uses skill-based dialogue with an experienced mental health professional (a therapist) to address the root causes of their symptoms. The goal of this treatment is to correct impairments and implement coping strategies that align with the daily routine of the client.
Therapists who specialize in adult ADHD-CBT show clients to recognize harmful thought patterns and help them learn to replace them with more productive thoughts. This process can take a long time. However, it's a good alternative for adults who are not getting adequate relief from medications.
A recent RCT study has found that when combined with medication, CBT is superior to cognitive behavioral therapy alone in reducing the severity of core symptoms, emotional symptoms self-esteem, and social functioning of adults suffering from ADHD (Clarke et al., 2017). CBT combined with methylphenidate can be particularly effective for people with more severe underlying issues.
The therapists who provide this type of treatment typically collaborate with the client to devise an action plan specific to solving their issues. They teach them a set of practical skills which are easy to learn and have a good chance of success. Typically, a chart system is used to track progress and reward positive behavior. For children, this could include a daily report that lists all the school tasks or positive behaviors they have to perform, as well as a system for recording and earning rewards. The therapists may also consider creating negative consequences if children fail to finish their tasks. This can be done in a sensitive and calming manner.
Metacognitive Therapy
A more recent form of therapy, metacognitive therapy, helps people change the way they think. This kind of therapy could be beneficial to those who suffer from various mental health issues, such as depression. It's a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps people recognize their negative thought patterns and how they impact their emotions. This kind of therapy can assist them in acquiring psychological tools that are able and effective.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metacognitive capabilities and daily functioning in adults suffering from ADHD. To do this we compared self- and informant-rated impairments in daily functioning with the predictors of metacognition (comprehensive Knowledge, Regulation of Cognition, Debugging Information Management and Evaluation). It was found that comprehensive knowledge was related to daily functioning in adults with ADHD but that the processes of regulation were not. The predictive power of a model with metacognition predictors was moderate, indicating that they can account for an important portion of the variance in the daily functioning of adults with ADHD.
Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) is an treatment that focuses on changing metacognitive beliefs that cause dysfunction and perpetuate states like worry, rumination and attention fixation. MCT was developed by Adrian Wells based on an information processing model by Wells and Gerald Matthews. MCT has been proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorder. However, it's still an in-development treatment and more research is required to determine if it can aid in other disorders.
This study was created to evaluate the effectiveness of MCT in the reduction of symptoms of illness anxiety disorder, but it can be applied to a variety of disorders and could be more effective than other therapies. This isn't a cure, but can be utilized to treat ADHD.
Family Therapy
In family therapy, the therapist works with all members of the family. Everyone can gain a better understanding of the client's issues and learn to assist their loved ones. It also helps them deal with their frustrations and build more effective communication skills. In addition, this type of counseling can be helpful for addressing comorbidities such as depression or alcohol abuse, which are commonly seen alongside ADHD.
The therapist will start with an intake session to understand the family's perception and determine if they're suitable for intervention with the family. The session can be conducted in person or via the internet. The counselor will go over the details of the treatment with each person and spell out the rules and guidelines of family therapy.
A therapist with experience treating adults with ADHD will ask a variety of questions to gain an understanding of the client's present symptoms, their past and their impacts on their work as well as their family and social life. They will also inquire whether there are other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured form of counseling which teaches you to change your negative patterns of thinking and to manage your behavior. It focuses on improving self-esteem and self control by educating you on how to handle stress and anger. It is a short-term treatment that can be used in conjunction with other forms of psychotherapy.
Individual therapy helps those with ADHD to overcome the emotional baggage that comes from failing and underachievement. It can also help them deal with conflicts in relationships or job changes as well as academic issues. It can help you develop coping and stress reduction techniques and teach you how to manage your time and money more efficiently. It can also be used to tackle other comorbid conditions like mood and anxiety disorders, which are often associated with ADHD.