ADHD in adults: symptoms and treatment
Author: Annika Lutter, medical editor | Team of experts
Last updated: August 03, 2020

Written according to the highest scientific standards and checked by experts

ADHD in adults often remains undetected and often affects the partnership and sexuality of those affected. What symptoms occur in adult attention hyperactivity disorder and how they are treated.

In women, ADHD often only leads to visible problems when, as adults, they face multiple burdens from work, household and family.

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For a long time, physicians assumed that ADHD would decrease with the end of puberty. But it is now clear that many people with ADHD persist into adulthood and seniority: Around 60-70 percent of children and adolescents affected by ADHD have a chronic course and also show symptoms of the disorder as adults.

In particular, if ADHD was not recognized as a pathological disorder in childhood, the risk of ADHD becoming a lifelong companion for adults is increased.

Overview of article content:

• Symptome

• Folgen von ADHS bei Erwachsenen

• Diagnose

• Therapie

• ADHS bei Frauen

ADHD in adults and children: important symptoms at a glance!

ADHD: symptoms in adults
The fidget philipp is the symbol of ADHD in children and adolescents: they are constantly on the move and cannot keep still. The symptom of motor restlessness often takes a back seat in adults - also because those affected have learned to control their behavior better. Other symptoms of the disorder usually make them more difficult, such as problems with concentration.

The symptoms of ADHD in adults are:

Strong (inner) restlessness and hyperactivity: You are always on the move, bobbing with your feet, playing with your hands, running around and feeling like you are under power. It is difficult to switch off and relax and have trouble sleeping.

impulsive character: Those affected are very erratic emotionally. Grief, anger, anger and fear alternate without any specific reason. The reactions are violent, exaggerated in relation to the trigger and impulsive.

Attention problems: Adults with ADHD find it difficult to focus on one thing or task for a long period of time. They are forgetful, unfocused, erratic and absent-minded. They cannot concentrate on work that they do not enjoy and can quickly be distracted by external circumstances and their own thoughts.

Selbsttest

Which symptoms occur when and how long have they been present? Was there anything unusual in childhood? Are medications taken? Have you been diagnosed with mental illness?

physical diagnostics: determination of blood values, ECG and thyroid examination to rule out organic causes,

Survey of caregivers and partners,

Questionnaire for patient self-assessment,

neuropsychological test procedures, which examine, for example, concentration, attention and cognitive skills.

Therapy of ADHD in adults
Adults with ADHD that are perceived as being restricted need appropriate treatment, which usually uses coaching, psychotherapeutic measures and medication. Therapy often focuses on accompanying depression, anxiety disorders and, if necessary, drug consumption favored by ADHD.

ADHD therapy in adults is essentially the same as that of children and adolescents. The multimodial treatment concept consists of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions:

Psychoeducation: Those affected receive comprehensive advice and information about ADHD. It is believed that the better the patient is informed about all aspects of ADHD, the more successful the treatment.

Psychotherapy: As part of behavioral therapy, those affected learn to deal better with ADHD symptoms, develop self-esteem again and recognize their own strengths. Strategies for solving everyday problems, exercises for improving concentration, methods for self-organization, for mastering emotional outbursts and for recognizing and resolving stressful thought and behavior patterns are taught. Behavioral therapy can be done in individual and group training. Other methods such as neurofeedback or relaxation techniques can also be used to train attention and concentration.

Use of medication: Active substances that were only used in children and adolescents years ago have now received approval for adults. These are the substances methylphenidate (Ritalin, Medikinet) and atomoxetine (Strattera). These drugs start directly with the messenger substances in the brain and influence the processing of stimuli. Those affected become more attentive and can concentrate better.

ADHD in adult women
Symptoms of ADHD in girls are usually less noticeable than in boys, which is why the disease is often undiagnosed, especially in adulthood. Affected girls are often quiet, somewhat dreamy and self-contained.

If the obligations increase with adulthood, the restrictions caused by ADHD also become visible in women. Inattentiveness, dreaminess, forgetfulness, mood swings, motivation problems and lack of organization can be compensated more and more poorly in the increasingly complex everyday life.

The multiple burden of household, work and family then increases the suffering of those affected. The majority of women with ADHD have a relatively high IQ and a particularly high level of creativity, which is why they themselves perceive and reflect on their difficulties relatively clearly. Her mental health also suffers from this. Feelings of failure and anxiety can develop into depression and other mental illnesses that require treatment.

In many cases, women only get treatment when other diseases have already been added to ADHD. In these cases, doctors often make diagnoses such as depression, bipolar personality disorder or Boderline personality disorder - the ADHD remains hidden behind these diseases and continues to be untreated.

Therapy can bring back quality of life
It is therefore important to think of ADHD as the cause of any symptoms. A multimodal treatment concept based on medication and psychotherapeutic measures has also proven to be very effective in women. By stabilizing their emotional world, it will be much easier for those affected to cope with their everyday life and lead a relatively structured life - despite ADHD in adulthood.