Adult ADHD and Comorbid Disorders
Many adults with ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, such as major depression (Kessler and colleagues, 2006). Many people who suffer from depression are not able to respond well to medication and may be able to benefit from therapy.
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that regulate and boost levels of certain brain chemicals. Commonly prescribed stimulants include amphetamine, methylphenidate, and similar medications.
Medicines
A variety of medications used to treat ADHD in children can also be used in adults. The dosages and effects differ. The doctor will take a look at the medical history, family health history, and other medical health conditions of the patient to determine which medication is best.
The most popular type of ADHD medication is stimulant and adjusts levels of two chemical messengers in the brain, norepinephrine as well as dopamine. Stimulants such as methylphenidate or dextro-amphe (commonly known as Adderall) increase the amount of these neurotransmitters. They help improve focus and reduce aggression and impulsivity. They come in many forms like chewable tablets, liquids and skin patches. Long-acting versions of these stimulants are preferred because they provide greater patient compliance and a longer lasting and smoother improvement in symptoms.
It is important to be aware that comorbid conditions like depression or anxiety disorders can affect the response to ADHD medication. It is therefore recommended that psychiatric disorders be treated first, and medication be used as a second measure. The medications that can be used to treat comorbid psychiatric disorders include atomoxetine, bupropion and tricyclic antidepressants (Wilens 2004).).
Some patients may suffer from a “rebound effect” in which their ADHD symptoms worsen after discontinuing stimulant medication. In these instances, a brief trial of a low dose of stimulant medication can be helpful.
Some people cannot tolerate stimulant medicines or are not able to take them due to Non Drug Treatment For Adhd, Yerliakor.Com, abuse or other health conditions like heart issues that are severe or hypertension. In these situations, nonstimulant drugs such as atomoxetine and viloxazine are effective. These medications don’t have the same negative side 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 them learn strategies to improve their lives manage anxiety and stress, resolve conflicts, and deal with problems in relationships or at work. It can also assist with co-occurring mental illnesses like depression and substance abuse disorders.
Talk therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and schema therapy. These therapies are based on the notion that thoughts and beliefs affect how a person feels, thinks and acts. CBT helps individuals identify negative patterns of behavior and thoughts and then develop and implement positive strategies to change them. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy utilizes meditation techniques to help a person learn to concentrate on their thoughts and emotions, control impulses and improve their executive functioning. Schema therapy and other forms of psychotherapy focused on a person’s history with their family may be useful for people who suffer from ADHD with significant secondary problems.
In addition to medications psychotherapy can assist in addressing the specific problems caused by ADHD like difficulty staying on track with schoolwork, resolving conflict and getting along with others, forgetting important dates or obligations, and impulsive decisions that result in legal or financial problems. It can also assist people to identify and overcome issues that contribute to their ADHD symptoms, like anxiety or depression.
Psychotherapy can help people discover healthy strategies for coping and decrease stress. For example exercising, improving sleep, and healthy eating habits. It can also provide assistance to an individual in the family or with a partner who is dealing with the effects ADHD has on their relationship. Family therapy and marriage counseling can help couples and families learn how to communicate better and manage ADHD symptoms together.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that focuses on helping clients change their negative thinking patterns. It involves a dialogue based on skills with an expert in mental health to address the underlying causes of the symptoms. This therapy aims to assist clients overcome their limitations and develop coping strategies that are appropriate to their daily lives.
In addition to educating clients to recognize unhelpful thoughts, the therapists who specialize in adult ADHD CBT help them develop skills that allow clients to replace their negative thoughts with more productive ones. This process can take a while. It is an option for adults who do not receive enough relief from their medication.
In a recent RCT that was conducted, it was discovered that cognitive behavioral therapy paired with medication is superior over cognitive behavior therapy by itself when it comes to improving the core symptoms, emotional symptom, self-esteem and social functioning in adults with ADHD (Clarke, et al. 2017). The combination of CBT and methylphenidate is particularly effective for those who have more severe underlying problems.
Therapists who provide this kind of treatment work with their clients to create an action plan to address their specific problems. They train them in a series of practical skills that are easy to learn and have a high probability of success. Often a chart system is utilized to track progress and reward positive behaviour. In the case of a child, this might involve a daily report that outlines all of the in-school tasks or positive behavior they need to accomplish and a method of tracking and earning rewards. The therapists could also discuss the possibility of the introduction of negative consequences if a child does not finish their tasks. This can be done in a sensitive and supportive manner.
Metacognitive Therapy
A more recent form of therapy, metacognitive therapy helps individuals change how they think. This type of treatment is effective for those who suffer from a variety of mental health problems such as depression. It’s a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy that assists people to identify their negative thinking patterns and how they impact their emotions. This type of therapy may assist them in acquiring psychological tools that are flexible and effective.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between metacognitive abilities and daily functioning in adults with ADHD. To this end we compared self- and informant-rated deficits in daily functioning to 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 untreated adhd in adults symptoms but that regulatory processes were not. The predictors of metacognition had a moderate predictive power, which indicates that they can explain an important amount of variation in the daily functioning of adults with ADHD.
Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a psychotherapy that focuses on modifying dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs that perpetuate states of anxiety and rumination, as well as attention fixation. Adrian Wells developed MCT based on the model of information processing by Wells and Gerald Matthews. MCT has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorder. However, it is still an emerging treatment and more research is required to determine whether it can help with other disorders.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MCT in the reduction of symptoms of illness anxiety disorder, however it can be applied to a variety of disorders, and may be more effective than other therapies. It is important to keep in mind that this is not an effective treatment for ADHD but it could be utilized as an adjunctive therapy.
Family Therapy
In family therapy, the therapist collaborates with all members of the family. This allows all members to learn about the client’s issues and learn how to support their loved ones better. It also assists them in finding natural ways to treat adhd to deal with their own feelings of frustration and improve their communication skills. In addition, this type of therapy is helpful for addressing comorbidities like depression or substance misuse which are often seen alongside ADHD.
The therapist will start with an intake session in order to understand the family’s perspective and determine if they are appropriate for family intervention. The session can be conducted in person or online. The counselor will go over the details of the therapy with each client and lay out the guidelines and rules of family therapy.
A therapist who has had experience working with adults suffering from ADHD will ask a lot of questions to get a better understanding of their present symptoms as well as their history and the impact they’ve had on their family, work and relationships. They will also ask whether there are other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a structured type of counseling that teaches you to manage your behavior and change negative thinking patterns to positive ones. It focuses on improving self-esteem and self control by teaching you how to handle stress and anger. It is a short-term treatment option that can be combined with other types of psychotherapy.
Individual therapy can help people with ADHD to manage the emotional baggage that results from failure and underachievement. It can also help them deal with relationship conflicts as well as job changes and academic difficulties. It can help you learn strategies for managing stress and coping and teach you how to manage your time and finances more effectively. It can also be used to tackle other comorbid conditions like mood and anxiety disorders, which are often associated with ADHD.
