How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If you're waiting for a long time and are not getting an assessment, request your GP to use Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their provider.
A psychiatrist will conduct a structured meeting to evaluate your symptoms and the impact on different areas of your life. They will request documents, such as childhood records and school reports are often requested.
Find a psychiatrist
Psychologists specialize in mental health and they can prescribe medication to treat ADHD. They may also provide therapy for talking. If you have health insurance, the cost of your doctor's visit should be covered. Contact your insurance provider if you're uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are covered by your insurance. You can also request your GP to recommend you to a psychiatrist specialist or search online for local services. If you don't have insurance, you may choose to go through an individual provider. Be sure that the Psychiatrist you choose is licensed and is experienced in dealing with ADHD patients.
Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what someone with ADHD is like. This makes it difficult to identify the person with ADHD. Additionally, a lot of medical professionals are not trained in adult ADHD and don't have much practical experience in dealing with it. You will have to do some research to locate an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you correctly.
Once you find a psychiatrist, it is essential to establish a trusting relationship with them. This is especially important if you plan to begin taking medication for ADHD. You should consider finding a new psychiatrist if you feel uncomfortable with the one you currently have. It is essential to be able to trust your doctor, but you shouldn't settle for anything less.
Your doctor may recommend you to an adult specialist in ADHD to conduct a clinical assessment. This usually involves a questionnaire and an interview with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in different social circumstances. The psychologist will then review your results and determine whether you meet the requirements for an adult ADHD diagnosis.
In try this , you can choose where you receive your NHS assessments. You can pick from the list of NHS providers offered by the NHS. Some of these providers are able to provide online assessments for adults, which can reduce wait times significantly.
Ask your doctor
If you have an GP with a good understanding of ADHD, they may be willing to refer you to the NHS to receive an assessment. In the UK this would involve a clinical interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not a nurse) which will comprise questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms, your medical history and your family mental health history. Neuropsychological tests could be administered in addition to the interview. This will give you a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as comorbid conditions, that might be influencing your ADHD symptoms.
Your GP can also help by writing a letter to let them know that you would like to be referred to an assessment under Right to Choose. You can get a template from ADHD UK to print off and give to your GP. If they are unable to accept this request for any reason it might be worthwhile to change your GP in particular when you intend to to apply for a Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.
If your GP agrees to refer you, then you will have to wait a few days prior to meeting with the specialist. It is crucial to prepare yourself for this, as the medical interview will likely be focused on how your ADHD symptoms are impacting your life right now. You will be asked for examples and to talk about how you've been performing in various aspects of your life.
Following a formal diagnosis, your specialist will offer you treatment options. These may include talk therapies and behavioural interventions as well as prescription drugs. You will be advised about how to manage your ADHD and receive an assessment with recommendations for continued care. If you are a student then it is likely that your specialist will recommend a shared care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medications for you.
Unfortunately there are a number of professionals in the UK from GPs to psychologists and nurses, who have little knowledge about ADHD. This can make finding a diagnosis and gaining access to treatment difficult. You might be told you don't require treatment because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t get treated. Or that children don't grow out of ADHD. It can be a challenge to find a professional that can listen and understand your situation.
Right to Choose
If you live in England and your GP agrees to refer you for an ADHD assessment you have the legal right to select the provider you want to be referred to. This is known as the 'Right of Choice'. The only requirement is that the selected provider has an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is recommended to find out the waiting time of the provider before you contact them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more details.
It is important to know that GPs only practice as general practitioners and are therefore not experts in diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. Therefore, you may have to convince your GP that you should be referred by an expert for an ADHD assessment. If you're unable to convince your GP that they should refer you to a specialist, you could print and download an email from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only a specialist can make this diagnosis.
Ask your GP what the current waiting time for an appointment is for an ADHD evaluation. If the waiting time is too long, you could make use of your Right to Choice and choose another provider.
If you are undergoing an ADHD assessment, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and be invited to an interview. Interviews are usually conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will focus on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also discuss your current symptoms. You must prepare for this interview in advance and bring a family member present for assistance.
Ask your GP about medication options. They might be hesitant to prescribe stimulants, but they should remember that there are a variety of non-stimulant drugs that can help manage the symptoms of ADHD. They include the drugs methylphenidate (Ritalin), dexamphetamine, and the atomoxetine (Strateva). In addition, you can also try cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy for adults with ADHD.
Private Assessment
You can refer yourself to a private assessment if you don't want to wait for the NHS or when your GP has preconceived notions about what ADHD is (this is an issue that is becoming more prevalent, especially among women as well as people of color and those born female). The main service provider for these is Psychiatry-UK They offer a useful guide for doing this on their website that includes template forms that you can hand to your GP. On their website, they also offer a list of providers. Most of them offer both in-person and online diagnosis.
A private assessment is usually slightly longer than a typical appointment with a psychiatrist and will include an organized interview with your psychiatrist. This will include a variety of aspects of your life and how your symptoms impact your current functioning. They will also look at your symptoms in various situations and settings. It is often helpful to have a family member or friend member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then go over their findings and give you an assessment.
They will inform them if they believe you have the right criteria for ADHD, or if they believe another condition is more appropriate to explain your behavior (symptoms). If they do not think you meet the criteria, they will explain the reason and you can ask them to refer you again.
After receiving a diagnosis, you can then decide if you wish to pursue the path of medication or not. You'll need to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to get a shared care agreement for your medication through your GP and this could save you money in the end.
It is not recommended to rely solely on the internet for an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tool since they can be misleading. It is important that you obtain a professional, impartial assessment to ensure that you get the best possible results. Depending on your circumstances and whether or not you are willing to take medication, there may be other support available that can ease your symptoms. If you're a student at a university, for example, you can request an assessment. They can give you guidance on adjustments that are reasonable and the Disabled Student's Allowance.