How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your doctor. If you're waiting a long time and are not getting an assessment, request your GP to refer you to Right to Choose law which gives patients the option of choosing their provider.
A psychiatrist will assess you through a structured interview and focus on your different areas of life that your symptoms are affecting on. They will request evidence including childhood history and school reports are often requested.
Find a psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are specialists in mental health and they can prescribe medication to treat ADHD. They can also provide therapy for talking. If you are insured, your psychiatrist's visits should be covered. Contact your insurance company if not sure if a psychiatrist is included in your network. You can also ask your GP to recommend you to a psychiatrist expert or search online for local services. If you don't have insurance, you may choose to go through an individual provider. Be sure to ensure that the Psychiatrist you select is licensed and has worked working with ADHD patients.
Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone who has ADHD appears like. This makes it difficult to identify someone with ADHD. In addition, many medical professionals are not trained in adult ADHD and do not have much hands-on experience with it. You will have to work hard to find an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly assess your symptoms and diagnose you correctly.
If you are able to find a psychiatrist, it is crucial to build a trusting relationship with them. This is particularly crucial when you plan to start taking medication to treat your ADHD. You should consider finding a new psychiatrist if you are uncomfortable with the one you currently have. It is essential to be comfortable with your doctor, but you should not settle for anything less.
Your doctor could recommend you to a specialist in adult ADHD for a clinical evaluation. The typical assessment involves a questionnaire and an exchange with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms affect your life in different social settings. The psychologist will go over your results to determine if you meet the criteria for adult ADHD diagnosis.
In England, you can choose which location to get your NHS assessments. You can pick from a list of NHS providers provided by the NHS. Some of these providers are able to offer online assessments for adults, which can reduce wait times significantly.
Ask your GP
If you have an GP who has a thorough understanding of ADHD and its symptoms, they might 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 nurse) which will comprise questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history, and your family mental health history. Neuropsychological tests may also be conducted in conjunction with the interview. This will provide more information about your strengths, weaknesses, and any comorbidities that could be affecting your ADHD.
Your GP can also assist by writing a letter stating that you want to be referred for an assessment under Right to Choose. Print an example and present it to your GP. If they are refusing for any reason, it could be worth changing your GP. This is especially applicable if you are planning to apply for a Shared Care Agreement in the future.
If your GP will agree to refer you, then you will have to wait a few days before meeting with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is crucial, as it will likely concentrate on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact your life at present. You'll be asked to provide examples and be prepared for a discussion about how you've been performing in different areas of your life.
After you've been diagnosed, your physician will provide you with advice on treatment options. This could include talk therapies and behavioral interventions, and prescription medications. You will be provided with advice on how to manage ADHD and a report that includes recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you're a university student, your specialist may recommend an arrangement for shared-care with your GP in order to prescribe medications for you.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of professionals in the UK, from GPs to nurses and psychologists who are not knowledgeable about ADHD. This makes finding a diagnosis and gaining access to treatment difficult. You may be told you don't require treatment because you are not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t receive treatment. Or that children will grow out of ADHD. It can be difficult to find a professional who will listen and understand your condition.
Right to Pick
If you live in England, and your GP accepts that you should be referred for an ADHD assessment by a third party, you are entitled to choose the service. This is called the "Right to Choice". The only requirement that a provider to be able to offer the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is recommended to also know the waiting times for the provider prior to contacting them. You can find out more by calling the provider directly or asking your GP.
You should be aware that GPs are general practitioners and are therefore not experts at diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. Therefore, you may need to convince your GP that you need to be referred to an expert for an ADHD assessment. If you're not able 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 an expert can make this diagnosis.
It is also advisable to ask your GP about the waiting times they are currently awaiting for an ADHD assessment. If the waiting time is too long, you may utilize your Right to Choose and choose a different provider.
If you are undergoing an ADHD assessment you will be required to complete a questionnaire and be invited to an interview. Interviews are typically conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will focus on your history of ADHD and how it impacted your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. You should prepare for this interview ahead of time and have a family member present for support.
It is also advisable to ask your GP to think about possible different options for your medication. They may be reluctant to prescribe stimulants, however they should remember that there are a variety of non-stimulant medicines that can help manage the symptoms of ADHD. Iam Psychiatry include the drugs methylphenidate (Ritalin), dexamphetamine, and the atomoxetine (Strateva). You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD.
Private Assessment
If you are not happy waiting for the NHS to refer you or you are worried that your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD is like (this is a growing problem especially for women, people of color and those who were deemed to be female at birth) If you are concerned about this, then self-refer to a private evaluation. Psychiatry-UK is the primary provider. They have a guide on their website that includes templates you can give to a GP. They also have a list of providers available on their website and most of them offer online diagnosis as well as in person.
A private appointment is typically just a little longer than a regular appointment with a psychiatrist and will include an organized interview with a psychiatrist. This will include a variety of aspects of your life and how your symptoms affect your current functioning. They will also review your symptoms in different contexts and situations. It is usually helpful to have a family member or friend member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and provide you with a diagnosis.
They will tell if you believe you are in line with the ADHD criteria or if another diagnosis best describes your symptoms (traits). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will let you know why and you can ask them to refer you back.
After you have received an assessment, you can then decide if you wish to pursue the route of medication or not. You'll have to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to obtain an agreement on shared care for medication through your GP and this could save you money in the long term.
It is not recommended to rely solely on the internet to get an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tool as they can be misleading. It is crucial to get a professional, unbiased evaluation to ensure you get the best possible results. Depending on your circumstances and whether or not you are willing to use medication, there may be other resources available to help ease your symptoms. If you are a university student for instance you may request an assessment. They will be able to give you advice on appropriate adjustments and the Disabled Students the'Allowance.