"A Guide To How To Get An ADHD Diagnosis UK In 2023

How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK

You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If the waiting time is long, think about asking your GP to make use of the law that gives patients the right to choose their providers and treatment providers - referred to as Right to Choose.

A psychiatrist will conduct a structured meeting to evaluate your symptoms and impacts on different aspects of your life. They might ask for your school and childhood histories as well as reports.

Find a psychiatrist

Psychologists specialize in mental health and they can prescribe medication to treat ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you have insurance the visit of your psychiatrist will be covered. Contact your insurer if you're unsure if a psychiatrist is covered by your insurance. You can also request your GP for an appointment with a psychiatric specialist or search for local services online. If you don't have insurance you may choose to go through a private service. Make sure the Psychiatrist is licensed and experienced with ADHD patients.

Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone who has ADHD looks like. This can make it difficult to diagnose people with ADHD. In addition, a lot of medical professionals are not educated in adult ADHD and do not have a lot of practical experience in dealing with it. You'll need to do some work to find an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you accurately.

Once you find a psychiatrist, it is important to establish a trusting relationship with them. This is particularly important if you are planning to begin taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you are uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, you should consider seeking out another one. It is crucial to be able to trust your doctor however, you should not settle for less.

Your GP can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a thorough clinical assessment. This typically involves a survey and a discussion with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in different social circumstances. The psychologist will then look at your results and determine whether you meet the requirements for an adult ADHD diagnosis.

In England You can choose where you receive your NHS assessments. The NHS provides a list of providers, and you can utilize your right to Choose to choose the one that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers can provide assessments online to adults, which can dramatically reduce the time it takes to wait.

Ask your doctor

If you have an GP who has a thorough understanding of ADHD, they may be willing to refer you to the NHS to receive a diagnosis. In the UK it will require an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not nurse) and will involve questionnaires about ADHD symptoms and medical history as well as family mental health background. It is also likely that neuropsychological tests will be carried out in conjunction with the clinical interview. This will help give a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, which includes comorbid conditions, that might be influencing your ADHD symptoms.

Your GP can assist you by writing a note informing you that he would like to refer you to an assessment under Right to Choose. Print an example and present it to your GP. If they are unable to accept this request for any reason it might be worth changing your GP, especially if you want to to apply for an Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.

If your GP agrees to refer you to a specialist, then you'll need to wait a few weeks before meeting with the specialist. Preparing for the interview is essential, as it will likely concentrate on your ADHD symptoms and how they affect your life today. You will be asked to provide examples and be prepared for a discussion about how you've been performing in different areas of your life.

Once you have been formally diagnosed, your physician will provide you with advice on treatment options. These may include talk therapy, behavioural interventions or prescription medications. You will be advised about how to manage your ADHD and given an assessment with recommendations for continued care. If you are a university student, your specialist may recommend a shared-care arrangement with your GP in order to prescribe medications for you.

Unfortunately there are a number of professionals in the UK including GPs, 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 that you don't need treatment since you are not hyperactive. Also, adults don't get treated. Or that children will develop ADHD. It can be challenging to find a specialist who can listen and understand your condition.

Right to choose

If you live in England, and your GP is in agreement that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by an outside party, you are entitled to choose which provider. This is known as the "Right to Choice". The only requirement is that the chosen provider has an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is recommended that you also know the waiting times for the service provider prior to calling them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more details.

It is worth noting that GPs are general practitioners and are not experts in diagnosing mental health problems such as adult ADHD. You may need convince your GP to refer you to a specialist in order to get an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to do this then the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can print and send 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 their current waiting times are for an ADHD evaluation. If the waiting time is too long, you could use your Right to Choice and choose a different provider.

You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire, and attend an interview when you visit have your ADHD evaluated. Interviews are usually conducted by a specialist nurse or psychiatrist. The interview will focus on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also examine your current symptoms. You must prepare ahead for the interview and bring a family member to help you.

Ask your GP about the options for medication. They might be hesitant to prescribe stimulants but they should be aware that there are a variety of non-stimulant medicines which can help control the symptoms of ADHD. These include methylphenidate and dexamphetamine as well as Atomoxetine. You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults suffering from ADHD.

Private Assessment

If you are not happy waiting for the NHS to refer you or you are concerned that your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD looks like (this is a growing issue particularly for women, people of colour and those assigned as female at birth), then you can self-refer for a private assessment. The main service provider for these is Psychiatry-UK and they have a great guide for doing this on their website which includes templates for forms you can hand to your GP. They also have an inventory of providers on their website and many of them provide online diagnosis as well as in-person.

A private adult adhd diagnosis appointment is typically slightly longer than a normal appointment with a psychiatrist and will include a structured interview with a psychiatrist. The session will cover different aspects of your life, and how your symptoms affect your current functioning. They will also look at your symptoms in different settings and situations. It is often helpful to have a family or friend member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then consider their findings and provide you with the diagnosis.

They will inform you if you believe that you meet the ADHD criteria or if a different diagnosis best describes your symptoms (traits). If they don't believe you meet the criteria they will give reasons and request another referral.

After receiving a diagnosis, you can then decide if you want to go down the route of medication or not. It is necessary to have a discussion with your GP. You might be able get a shared-care agreement for medications through your GP. This can help you save money over the course of time.

It is not recommended to depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis via the internet or other self-diagnosis tools as these can be inaccurate. You should get a professional and objective assessment to get the best results. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and whether you are willing to accept medication, other support could be available. For example, if you are an undergraduate, you could get an assessment from your school. They can advise you on reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Students allowance.