Adult ADHD and Comorbid Disorders
Many people with ADHD also suffer from comorbid disorders such as major depression (Kessler and colleagues, 2006). Many people who suffer from depression aren't able to take medication and may get better results from therapy.
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that regulate and boost levels of certain brain chemicals. Drugs that stimulate the brain such as methylphenidate or amphetamine are commonly prescribed.
Medicines
A variety of medications used to treat ADHD in children can also be used on adults. However, the dosages are different and the medications can cause adverse effects that aren't present in children. A doctor will consider the individual's medical history, family history and other health conditions to determine what medication is best for him or her.
The most commonly used ADHD medication is a stimulant. It works by altering the levels of norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. Stimulants like methylphenidate (also known as Adderall), and dextroamphetamine increase the availability of neurotransmitters that help improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and decrease aggression. These stimulants are available in various forms, including skin patches, liquids, and chewable tablets. These long-acting stimulants are favored as they lead to better patient compliance, and an easier, longer-lasting improvement of symptoms.
It is crucial to keep in mind that comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders can influence the response to ADHD medication. Therefore, it is recommended that these psychiatric issues be treated first before medication used as secondary measure. The medications that can be used for comorbidity disorders include atomoxetine (Bupropion) tricyclic antidepressants as well as bupropion (Wilens 2004).).
Certain patients may experience some patients may experience a "rebound" effect where they experience a worsening of ADHD symptoms after discontinuing stimulant medication. In these instances an experiment of a short duration with an atypical stimulant drug could prove beneficial.
Certain people are not able to take stimulant drugs or are in a position to not take them due to addiction or other health conditions, such as severe heart problems or hypertension. In these cases, non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine and viloxazine may be beneficial. These medications don't have the same negative side effects as stimulants, and are less likely to be misused or diverted.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is a great option for those with ADHD. It can help them learn techniques to improve their lives to manage anxiety and stress, resolve conflicts, and cope with problems in relationships and at work. It can also help people with mental disorders that coexist, like addiction and depression disorders.
Talk therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as well as schema therapy. These therapies are based on the idea that a person's beliefs and thoughts influence how they behave, think and feel. add treatment for adults helps an individual identify negative patterns of behavior and thoughts and then develop and implement positive strategies to change these. Meditation techniques are used in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to help people concentrate on their thoughts and emotions as well as control their impulses and improve executive functioning. Schema therapy, as well as other forms of psychotherapy that concentrate on a person's family history, may be helpful for those suffering from ADHD.
Psychotherapy, along with medication, can assist with specific ADHD problems, such as difficulty keeping up with schoolwork or interacting with other people. It can also help with forgetting important dates and responsibilities and making decisions that are impulsive and could lead to legal and financial issues. It can assist a person overcome the root issues like depression and anxiety that may be contributing to their ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy can help people discover healthy strategies for coping and decrease stress. For instance, exercise, sleep improvement and healthy eating habits. It can also provide assistance to a family or partner member who may be dealing with the effects of ADHD on their relationship. Marriage and family therapy can help couples and families improve communication and learn to manage ADHD symptoms together.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that is focused on helping clients overcome their negative thinking patterns. It involves a dialogue based on skills with a mental health professional to identify the root reason for the symptoms. This treatment aims to help patients overcome impairments and develop coping skills that are in line with their daily lives.
Therapists who specialize in adult ADHD-CBT show clients how to identify unhelpful thought patterns and help them learn to replace them with more productive thoughts. This process can be lengthy. It's a possibility for adults who do not receive enough relief from their medication.
A recent RCT study concluded that when combined with medication, CBT is superior to cognitive behavioral therapy alone in reducing the core symptoms, emotional symptoms self-esteem, and social functioning in adults with ADHD (Clarke et al., 2017). The combination of CBT and methylphenidate is especially effective for those with more severe underlying issues.
Therapists who provide this kind of treatment work with clients to devise an action plan to address the specific issues they face. They teach them a set of practical skills which are easy to learn and have a high chance of success. Typically, a chart system is used to monitor the progress of a child and reward positive behavior. In the case of a child, this might include a daily report that lists all the in-school tasks or positive behaviors they need to accomplish and a method of recording and earning rewards. The therapists could also discuss the possibility of introducing negative consequences when a child does not complete their work. This can be done with care and encouragement.
Metacognitive Therapy
Metacognitive therapy is a newer kind of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking. This kind of therapy can be beneficial to those who suffer from various mental health problems, such as depression. It is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that assists people in recognizing negative thoughts and their impact on their emotions. This kind of therapy helps individuals develop psychological tools that can be flexible and useful.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between metacognitive abilities and daily functioning in adults with ADHD. To accomplish this, we compared self and informant-rated daily functioning impairments with predictors of Metacognition (comprehensive knowledge, regulation of Cognition, Debugging Information Management, and Evaluation). It was observed that comprehensive knowledge was connected to daily functioning in adults with ADHD however, the regulatory processes were not. The predictive effectiveness of a model that includes metacognition predictors was moderate, indicating that they can explain an important portion of the variance in daily functioning for adults with ADHD.
Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a type of psychotherapy which focuses on changing dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs that perpetuate states of anxiety or rumination as well as attention fixation. MCT was developed by Adrian Wells based on an information processing model developed by Wells and Gerald Matthews. MCT has been proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. However, it's still a relatively new treatment and further research will be needed to determine if it can aid in other disorders.
This study was created to determine the efficacy of MCT in reducing symptoms of illness anxiety disorder, but it can be applied to a variety of disorders and could be more effective than other treatments. This is not an effective treatment, but it can be utilized to treat ADHD.
Family Therapy
In family therapy, therapists work with all family members. Everyone is able to better understand the client's issues and learn to assist their loved ones. It also assists them in finding ways to deal with their own feelings of frustration and improve their communication skills. Additionally, this kind of counseling can be helpful in dealing with comorbid disorders like depression or addiction to drugs, which are typically seen alongside ADHD.
The therapist will commence with an intake session in order to gain an understanding of the family's perspective of the problem and assess their ability to intervene with the family. The session can be conducted in person or online. The Therapist will discuss the nature of treatment with each person and spell out the do's and don'ts of family therapy.
A therapist with experience treating adults suffering from ADHD will ask a lot of questions in order to gain understanding of the client's present symptoms, their history and their impacts on their work as well as their family and social life. They will also ask if there are any other mental health issues present like depression or anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured form of counseling which teaches you to change your negative thoughts patterns and control your behavior. It focuses on improving self-esteem and self control by educating you on how to handle anger and stress. It is a short-term treatment option that can be used in conjunction with other types of psychotherapy.
Individual talk therapy helps people with ADHD to overcome the emotional baggage that comes from failing and underachievement. It can also help them deal problems with relationships as well as job changes and academic difficulties. It can help you learn stress reduction and coping techniques and also how to better manage your financial and time management. It can also be used to address the comorbidities, like anxiety and mood disorders which are often seen alongside ADHD.