The road to treatment success
Any delays in treating adults with ADHD can lead to a frustrating situation in which the entire family will be affected. As stated earlier, numerous support groups are available to adults with ADHD, and some of those groups can offer valuable tips about addressing stress management and the diverse roles that parents and family members may play in patient care.18 These groups provide a network for people to exchange ideas and recommend strategies. Online support groups may connect patients directly with key opinion leaders and health care providers.
Individuals with ADHD often experience problems with organization and concentration – especially within the context of the pandemic – and receiving guidance from counselors will provide an opportunity to learn valuable coping strategies and manage symptoms, recognizing and mitigating any mood swings associated with anxiety or depression that emerge alongside their ADHD. Psychotherapy is instrumental in patient care, and individuals with adult ADHD should be taught to acknowledge the role of medications (for example, neglect, divert, or self-medicate). A holistic approach to managing ADHD symptoms is necessary for optimal functioning and independence.
Dr. Aman is a faculty member in the biology department of City Colleges of Chicago. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the International Maternal and Child Health Foundation (IMCHF), Montreal; a fellow, medical staff development, from the American Academy of Medical Management; and a Masters Online Teacher, University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Aman disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Islam is a medical adviser for the IMCHF, Montreal, and is based in New York. He is a postdoctoral fellow, psychopharmacologist, and a board-certified medical affairs specialist. Dr. Islam disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Karama is a psychiatrist at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal. He is an assistant professor at the department of psychiatry, McGill University, also in Montreal. He has no disclosures. Dr. Choudhry is the chief scientific officer and head of the department of mental health and clinical research at the IMCHF. He has no disclosures.
References
1. J Atten Disord. 2020. doi: 10.1177/1087054720943271.
2. ADDitude Magazine. 2020 Jul 23.
3. Management of ADHD in Adults: What the Science Says. 2007 Oct 9. Guilford Press.
4. N Engl J Med. 2013 Nov 14;369(20):1935-44.
5. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63 Suppl 12:29-35.
6. J Atten Dis. 2015 Jan 12. doi: 10.1177/1087054144566076.
7. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Oct;292. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113345.
8. Case Rep Cardiol. 2016. doi: 10.1155/2016/2343691.
9. Curr Diab Rep. 2019 Jun 27;19(8):46. doi: 10.1007/s11892-019-1174-x.
10. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014 Mar;16(3):436. doi: 10.1007/s/11920-013-0436-6.
11. Current Psychiatry. 2014 Dec;13(12):e3-4.
12. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(40). doi: 10.1186/s/12888-020-02707-9.
13. Psychol Addict Behav. 2016 Mar;30(2):252–62.
14. ADDitude Magazine. 2017 Apr 6.
15. Harv Mental Health Letter. 2009 Nov.
16. MGM J Med Sci. 2020 Jul 17(3):161-2.
17. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 7.
18. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2020 Dec;51. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101845.