Leading to problems with emotional control, ADHD affects people’s lives extensively. The phenomenon of ADHD is traditionally defined as a mental disorder that causes a drop in attention span (Hu, Chou, & Yen, 2016). However, apart from the specified issue, ADHD may also entail comorbid mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Therefore, a combined framework involving interventions and medications is required to limit the impact of comorbid issues and address ADHD.
Due to the complex nature of the issues that are comorbid with ADHD, patients will have to be provided with complex treatment strategies involving behavioral therapies, interventions, and medications. For example, a combination of long-acting stimulants and psychoeducation should be seen as important since it allows improving self-regulation inpatients and provides vulnerable groups with tools for controlling their emotions (Katzman, Bilkey, Chokka, Fallu, & Klassen, 2017). The resulting rise in awareness and emotional intelligence levels is likely to leave a positive impact on patients, helping them to manage their mental health issues.
Monitoring should also be incorporated into the range of tools for assisting ADHD patients with comorbid issues. For instance, a detailed analysis of patients’ responses to the proposed treatment is required to ensure that the selected intervention has a positive effect on a patient (Hu et al., 2016). The monitoring process also requires a patient’s participation, with the provided feedback informing the further choice of a strategy selected by a therapist.
Due to the effects that ADHD has on one’s social interactions and the overall perception of one’s self, the specified disorder tends to cluster with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Due to the effects that ADHD has on patients’ relationships with their family members and friends, the development of comorbid health problems becomes highly possible. Therefore, a multifaceted approach toward managing ADHD patients’ needs is required.
References
Hu, H. F., Chou, W. J., & Yen, C. F. (2016). Anxiety and depression among adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The roles of behavioral temperamental traits, comorbid autism spectrum disorder, and bullying involvement. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 32(2), 103-109. Web.
Katzman, M. A., Bilkey, T. S., Chokka, P. R., Fallu, A., & Klassen, L. J. (2017). Adult ADHD and comorbid disorders: Clinical implications of a dimensional approach. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 302-316. Web.