Available Treatments for ADHD and ADD
The two primary methods for treating ADHD include both medication and non-medication therapy.
Medication therapy requires the use of drugs known to reduce the severity of the disease’s symptoms. Most of these drugs include Dextroamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate and a host of others.
However, most of these drugs come with their side effects, and this is why the FDA strongly recommends that their consumption be based on a physician’s prescription.
Because patients mature and become agents of implementation in their care, there is an increase in non-pharmacological interventions. Also, psychological intervention plays a significant role during critical life transitions—for example, that experience between adolescence and adulthood.
When it comes to treating ADHD, the approach should be modified for critical developmental stages. This reflects both the most problematic behavioral symptoms at that stage and the patient’s understanding level. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can also be treated using non-medication approaches, which include
- Behavioral Therapy, including parent-led behavioural interventions, Classroom-led behavioural interventions, and cognitive behavioural therapy, directs patients and neurofeedback.
- Psychoeducation include educating patients, their families, and teachers about ADHD, direct from clinicians at consultation and group education sessions
- Exercise and diet including increasing physical activity, changes to diet (limited evidence)
Behavioral Therapy
This is the umbrella term that encompasses all the therapies that are done to treat mental health disorders. This form of therapy helps in identifying and changing potentially destructive or unhealthy behaviors. The underlying mechanism behind it is that all behaviours are learned, and unhealthy behavior can be changed.
Parent-led Behavioral Therapy
Parent-led behavioural therapy aims to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’s core symptoms and associated oppositional and non-compliant behaviours. The therapy works by combining behavioral management techniques using novel therapeutic elements based on developmental models of social and cognitive development.
Advantages of parent-led behavioral therapy include the following
- The therapy can be conducted as individual or group sessions
- It can be used in pre-school children
- It can be adapted to the particular needs of both the parent and child
- It can be conducted at home or in any outpatient settings
Classroom-led behavioral therapy
These are examples of therapies delivered in a real-world situation known for providing training on the expected behavior within the context in which it is required. The therapy can be provided by teachers following appropriate training and combine behaviour modification and cognitive behavioural modification techniques.
During the therapy, the classroom presents those with ADHD with some demands, including following rules, interacting with peers, avoiding interruption of the teacher and peers, engaging with teaching activities, and self-organization. The therapy has been proven to result in a significant reduction in hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involves self-instructional training that is administered on a group or individual basis. This helps individuals with ADHD develop a more planned and reflective approach to behaving and thinking, including social interactions.
This will also help individuals adopt a more reflective, systematic and goal-oriented approach to everyday tasks, activities, and problem solving, including academic functioning.
Previous researches have shown that patients that are exposed to CBT have significantly reduced symptoms of ADHD. Besides, they also have a significant reduction in functional impairment.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback training involves the usage of computer-based exercises. These exercises are known for providing feedback regarding attention levels to enable behavioural training.
An electroencephalogram will be employed to measure your brain’s electrical activity whilst performing a task, usually playing a computer game during this treatment method. It is believed that during the gaming process, you receive points when your brain activity shows positive changes.
This gives you immediate feedback based on your level of attention during a particular task. Afterwards, you will be trained to monitor and change the patterns of your brainwaves.
Psychoeducation
This can be viewed as providing information regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to patients with the disorder and their families/people close to them. Most of the psychoeducation programs are not based on cognitive behavioral therapy approaches or parent-let behavioral training.
However, they are designed to help inform patients and relations about ADHD and its treatment. This will help in facilitating faster understanding and management of the condition.
Some of the advantages of the psychoeducation program include
- Allowing participants and families to get an expert’s view on a disorder
- Culturally adapted for the specific population
- Systematic, structured and based on previous evidence-based programs.
Exercise And Diet
Like many other disorders, there have been many recommendations about the positive effect of exercise and diet on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. There has also been the release of many guidelines which advocate the importance of regular exercise, a balanced diet and good nutrition for anyone with the disorder, irrespective of age.
However, the evidence to back up the role of exercise in managing ADHD is quite limited. There are many benefits that it can offer to those that are having the disorder.
Diet
There has been the development of many guidelines about the importance of diet in managing the disorder. Many small studies have assessed the effects of dietary interventions on managing the symptoms associated with the disorder.
These include the restriction or elimination diets or dietary supplementation with iron, vitamins, minerals and omega 3 or 6 fatty acids.
For example, omega-three and omega-six fatty acids have shown beneficial effects on attention, behaviour, and emotion, especially when combined with supplementary ions like magnesium and zinc.
Also, abstinence from artificial colored food has been shown to affect the symptoms of ADHD significantly. There have been many facts also to support the critical role of micronutrient in the management of ADHD.
