Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is generally treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Pharmacological treatments are not always an option because of the side effects, possible health risks, desires of the individual, or their lack of effectiveness. In these situations, a number of other treatment options and interventions are available.
Basics
Treatments for ADHD focus on the causes of behavior problems, developing interventions to reduce the problem behaviors, learning skills to deal with the problems and working through frustrations and negative thought processes that have developed as a result of the setbacks experienced due to ADHD.
Therapy
Individual psychotherapy and more specifically, behavioral therapy are prime forms of treatment used with ADHD. The National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, reports that behavioral therapy focuses on changing the patient's behaviors, teaching him how to monitor, praise and reward himself for engaging in desirable behaviors, and developing practical solutions for ADHD.
Also, some children become involved in social skills training. This allows the child to focus on building and developing his social skills, which will be beneficial to him in the long run. Social problems and poor peer relationships are often found in individuals with ADHD, notes the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Involvement
Parents of children with ADHD are involved in the treatment process. Psychotherapy focuses on providing the parents with an education on the disorder and teaching them how to best relate, handle and help their child. According to NIMH, parental skill training teaches parents how to implement a system of rewards and consequences to help modify their child's behavior.
For adults who have ADHD, people close to them might be asked to participate in the treatment process depending on the needs of the individual. Couples therapy or family therapy is used to help those close to the adult patient better understand the disorder, discuss resentments that have arisen as a result of the ADHD, and develop solutions to help the couple or family overcome the negative impacts of ADHD.
Considerations
Non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD require that the patient make changes to her lifestyle. To reduce the symptoms of ADHD through lifestyle changes, a patient should ensure that she gets at least eight hours of quality sleep every night, maintains a daily routine, eats a diet that is rich in nutrients, and gets at least 45 minutes of physical activity five days a week, but children should generally get more.
Tips
Patients with ADHD can implement practical techniques to overcome some of the symptoms. To help a patient remember everything she needs to do, and to help her get it done, she should make a list of daily tasks to complete each day and cross off each task once it is completed. To improve time management skills, she should force herself to become a clock-watcher, and give herself specific amounts of time to complete each activity. In addition, to avoid some of the financial problems that tend to occur with ADHD, adult patients should have their bills automatically deducted from their bank accounts at a certain time each month.
