How Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treated?
We know that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome that affects both children and adults and that, likewise, affects a wide range of behaviors that they carry out. In fact, some authors propose talking about a “syndrome” rather than a “disorder” in order to emphasize the impact of this problem in multiple areas of life. Although there are different criteria to determine whether a person has ADHD or not, the essential characteristic of the condition is the presence of inattention, impulsivity – that is, the lack of inhibitory control of one’s own behaviors – and hyperactivity.
However, far from being a pigeonholed category, different activists strive daily to vindicate the stories of people with ADHD and their ability to think outside the box. The syndrome always persists, but its symptoms do not have to be a problem for leading a life different from that of any other person.
In fact, the variety of great personalities who were (or could have been) diagnosed with ADHD demonstrate this, such as Biles, Bolt, Jordan and Phelps (and those are just athletes). ADHD has treatment, and this is usually medical, specifically pharmacological; although the usefulness of the psychotherapy approach has also been demonstrated. In this article we will develop What do both treatments for ADHD consist of?.
Although research teams are constantly trying to find the best alternatives to treat ADHD, treatment with certain specific drugs has been shown to be extremely efficient in reducing a person’s symptoms. From a pharmacological perspective, and as counterintuitive as it may seem according to common sense, it is essential to consider that the substances that usually calm individuals with ADHD are stimulants, while tranquilizing substances tend to make them more nervous.
The drug that has become the favorite for the treatment of ADHD is methylphenidate, since its side effects are minimal and the only essential requirement to be administered is that there be periodic medical check-ups. This medication can have two presentations, rapid absorption and slow absorption; both very efficient.
Its main difference lies in the number of doses per day it requires (in the case of slow absorption, a single dose is enough; for rapid absorption, it must be taken two or three times a day). Other medications that are also commonly used for the treatment of ADHD are atomoxetine or dextroamphetamine. The type of medication, the dose and the frequency with which it should be taken will depend on the patient’s particularities and should always be determined by a doctor knowledgeable about the case.
What professionals can diagnose and treat ADHD?
A frequently asked question about ADHD is regarding its diagnosis: What professionals can do it? Well, there are several professionals who can do it; For example, it can be carried out by a pediatrician or psychiatrist. These use manuals that establish standard guidelines (such as the DSM-5) to determine if a patient fits within a particular clinical picture according to the symptoms they present. It is important to note that the diagnosis is exclusively clinical, since currently there are no biomedical tests that allow an objective diagnosis of whether a person has this syndrome or not, so the clinical history that evaluates the patient’s symptoms must be carried out with the greatest possible rigor.
The diagnosis can also be made by another mental health professional, the psychologist, who through an interview will be able to determine if the person has sufficient criteria to be diagnosed with ADHD. To do this, you will have to make sure that the symptoms do not fit better with another condition. Psychologists can also carry out treatments and interventions regarding these patients, since Scientific findings support that psychological support and psychotherapy can be useful in some cases of ADHD.
##Psychological treatment for ADHD As we said previously, the treatment of ADHD usually involves pharmacological treatment in the vast majority of cases. What happens is that, although the use of drugs would produce an improvement in the person by itself, basing the treatment exclusively on this strategy would imply an incomplete way of addressing ADHD according to scientific evidence. Some psychotherapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have offered favorable results for the treatment of this syndrome.
In children, adolescents and adults alike, CBT can lead to an improvement in self-control, reflection and interpersonal relationships. In addition, it can provide tools to the person with ADHD so that they are able to make up for some areas of their life in which the symptoms could negatively affect them. For example, CBT favors the development of communication and emotional management strategies to achieve positive changes at a behavioral level, which can be perceived by the people around them (such as parents and teachers, if it is a child). ; as well as training in academic, planning and organizational skills, which would be reflected in improvements in meeting schedules or missing less school. As if that were not enough, a curious fact is that it has been found that psychosocial treatments are associated with a decrease in the stimulant medication required to treat ADHD.
Furthermore, a relevant characteristic about the psychological treatment for ADHD is that it, as far as possible, should include people close to the patient with the aim of helping you improve symptoms and comorbidities. It is necessary for individuals, especially adults, to have the ability to correct certain impulsive or hyperactive habits to function in social and work environments. This requires multidisciplinary and coordinated treatment. For this reason, the integration between pharmacological treatment and psychological treatment has proven to be one of the best alternatives for the treatment of ADHD.
