How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK

Your GP can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If the wait time is very long, consider asking your GP to make use of the law that gives patients rights to choose their providers called Right to Choose.

A psychiatrist will examine you through a structured interview. They will concentrate on your different areas of life that your symptoms have an impact on. They will require evidence, including childhood histories - school reports are sometimes requested.

Find a Psychiatrist

Psychologists specialize in mental health and they may prescribe medication to treat ADHD. They can also offer talk therapy. If you have health insurance, the cost of your psychiatrist's visit will be covered. Contact your insurance company if unsure if a psychiatrist is included in your network. You could also request your GP for the referral to a psychiatrist specialist or search for local services online. If you do not have insurance, you can opt for an individual service. However, make sure that the Psychiatrist you choose is licensed and has worked with ADHD patients.

Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what someone who has ADHD appears to be. This can be a problem when trying to establish an assessment. Additionally, a lot of medical professionals are not educated in adult diagnosis of adhd ADHD and do not have much practical experience with it. You'll have to do some research to find an adult ADHD expert who is able to accurately determine the symptoms.

It is important to develop a relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you've found one. This is particularly crucial if you are planning to start taking medication for your ADHD. If you're uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, consider seeking out an alternative. While it's important to feel comfortable with a doctor, you should not have to settle for less than you're entitled to.

Your doctor could recommend you to an adult specialist with ADHD for a medical evaluation. This usually involves a questionnaire, and a discussion between you and the psychologist regarding your ADHD symptoms in various social settings. The psychologist will then review your results and determine whether you meet the requirements for an adult ADHD diagnosis.

In England, you can choose the place where you receive your NHS assessments. You can choose from the list of NHS providers offered by the NHS. Some of these providers can provide assessments online to adults, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to wait.

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 it will require a clinic interview 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 conducted along with the interview. This will give you more information about your strengths, weaknesses, and comorbid conditions that may influence your ADHD.

Your GP can assist you by writing a note informing you that he wants to refer you to an assessment under Right to Choose. You can download a template from ADHD UK to print off and present to your GP. If they don't want to accept this request for any reason, it could be worth changing your GP particularly if you want to go on to apply for an Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.

If your GP will agree to the referral then there will be a short time before you are able to meet with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is vital, as it will likely focus on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact your life today. 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 give you treatment options. This could include talk therapies and behavioural interventions and prescription drugs. You will receive guidance on how to manage ADHD and an assessment that will include recommendations for continuing treatment. If you're an undergraduate student Your doctor may suggest an arrangement of shared-care with your GP in order to prescribe medication for you.

There are a lot of professionals in the UK who do not have a lot of knowledge about ADHD. This includes doctors as well as nurses and psychologists. This can make it difficult to get an assessment or access treatment. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults don't get treated and that children aren't treated of it. It can be challenging to find a professional that will listen and understand your situation.

Right to choose

If you reside in England, and your GP agrees that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by a third party, you are entitled to choose the provider. This is known as the 'Right to Choose'. The only requirement for a provider to be able provide the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is recommended that you also know the waiting times for the service provider prior to calling them. You can do this by calling directly or asking your GP for more details.

It is worth noting that general practitioners and so are not experts in diagnosing mental health issues, including adult ADHD. So, you might have convince your GP that you need to be referred to a specialist for an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to do this and you are unable to convince your doctor, the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can print and download to hand to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidelines which state that a GP can't refuse to diagnose ADHD, and that only a doctor can make this diagnosis.

Ask your GP what their current waiting time is for an ADHD evaluation. If the waiting time is too long, you could make use of your Right to Choice and select a different provider.

When you go for your ADHD assessment you will be required to complete a survey and to attend an interview. Interviews are usually conducted by psychiatrists or nurses who specialize in ADHD. The interview will concentrate on your experience with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also examine your current symptoms. It is recommended to prepare for the interview and bring a family member to support you.

It is also advisable to consult your GP to look into different options for your medication. They may not be able to prescribe stimulants but they should be reminded that there are medications that are not stimulant that can help manage ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and atomoxetine. You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD.

Private Assessment

You can refer yourself to a private assessment if you don't want to wait for the NHS or if your GP has preconceived assumptions about what ADHD is (this is an issue that is becoming more prevalent, especially for women as well as people of color adult ADHD diagnosis and women born to females). Psychiatry-UK is the main provider. They have an online guide that includes templates you can give to a GP. They also have a list of providers on their website and most of them offer online diagnosis and in person.

A private assessment is likely to be a little longer than an ordinary psychiatric visit and include an in-depth interview. The interview will cover a variety of aspects of your life, and how your symptoms are affecting your current performance. They will also review your symptoms in a variety of situations and settings. It is a good idea to have a friend or family member provide feedback. The psychiatrist will review their findings and issue a diagnosis.

They will inform you if you believe you are in line with the ADHD criteria or if another diagnosis best describes your symptoms (traits). If they do not believe you meet the criteria, they will tell you the reasons why and you can request them to refer you again.

After receiving an assessment, you can then decide if you wish to pursue the route of medication or not. You will have to discuss this with your GP, you may be able to obtain a shared-care agreement for medications through your GP and this can save you money in the long run.

Do not rely entirely on the internet to get an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tool since they could be erroneous. You should get a professional and impartial assessment to receive the best possible outcome. Based on your situation and whether or not you're willing to take medication, there could be other options that can ease your symptoms. If you're an undergraduate student, for example, you can request an assessment. They can provide you with suggestions on how to make reasonable adjustments, and Disabled Student's Allowance.