ADHD Treatment Options - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Treatment Options

Presently, the treatment for ADHD involves therapy and/or medication.

Therapy:

A psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other mental health care professional provides the therapy involving counseling or behavior therapy. People suffering from ADHD along with anxiety disorder or depression can benefit from counseling. Some of the counseling therapies are as follows:

Psychotherapy: Older children and adults suffering from ADHD are allowed to talk and discuss the issues that trouble them, explore negative behavioral patterns and permitted to learn the ways to deal with their symptoms.

Behavior Therapy: In this therapy, teachers and parents learn strategies (contingency management procedures) to deal with children’s behavior. The strategy includes token reward system and timeouts. This therapy has proved beneficial for those suffering from ADHD.

Family Therapy: This therapy helps parents and siblings to deal with the stress of living with those suffering from ADHD.

Social Skills Training: This helps children to learn appropriate social behavior.

Support Groups: These groups offer a net work of social support, information and education to adults and children suffering from ADHD and their parents, friends and relatives.

Parenting Skills Training: This helps the parents to develop ways to understand and guide the child in his day-to-day life. Best results are be obtained with teachers, parents and therapists or physicians working in teams.

Medications:

Psychostimulants are prescribed to treat ADHD. Some of them are as follows:

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Atomoxetine (Strattera) – a non-stimulant with similar effective action is also used.

The above medications are available in oral form and are short-acting (lasting for 4 hours) and long-acting (6-12 hours) forms. Methylphenidate (brand name – Daytrana) a long acting drug is a patch worn on the hip and is to be used in children of ages 6-12 years. Psychostimulants appear to boost and balance neurotransmitters.

Medication side effects:
Side effects of psychostimulants are decreased appetite, corresponding weight loss, reduced growth rate, nervousness, irritability or increased activity and problems sleeping. Some children also develop jerky muscle movements such as grimaces or twitches (tics). Strattera medication leads to rare liver problems and signs of suicidal thinking. Adederall is not recommended to those suffering from cardiac abnormalities. Similar side effects are observed in adults when treated with the above medications (11).

Prevention Methods
There are no known methods to prevent ADHD. Avoiding alcohol, drugs and smoking during pregnancy may help prevent from the child from developing ADHD or similar problems.(12)

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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