How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
You may be referred to the NHS ADHD assessment by your doctor. If you're waiting an extended period and are not getting an assessment, ask your GP to refer you to the Right to Choose law which gives patients the option of choosing their provider.
A psychiatrist will evaluate your condition through a structured clinical interview and focus on your various areas of your life that your symptoms impact on. adult adhd diagnosis uk might request your school and childhood histories as well as reports.
Find a Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists specialize in mental health and they may prescribe medication to treat ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you are insured, your psychiatrist's visits should be covered. Contact your insurance company if uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are covered by your insurance. You could also request your GP for an appointment with a psychiatric specialist or look up local services on the internet. If you don't have insurance, you may opt for a private service. Be sure to ensure that the Psychiatrist you select is licensed and has worked dealing with ADHD patients.
Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what someone suffering from ADHD looks like. This makes it difficult to identify people with ADHD. In addition, a lot of medical professionals are not educated in adult ADHD and do not have much hands-on experience with it. You'll need to do some research to find an adult ADHD specialist who can evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you correctly.
Once you find a psychiatrist, it is important to establish a trusting relationship with them. This is especially important when you are planning to start taking medication for ADHD. Consider finding a new psychiatrist if you are not comfortable with the one you currently have. It is crucial to be able to trust your physician but you shouldn't settle for anything less.
Your doctor can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. This usually involves a survey and an interview with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in various social circumstances. The psychologist will then look at your results and determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis.
In England You can choose which provider you will receive your NHS assessments. The NHS offers a list of providers, and you can use your right to Choose to select the provider that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers can offer online assessments to adults, which could significantly reduce the time it takes to wait.
Ask your doctor
If you have a GP who is well-aware of ADHD they may be happy to refer you for an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this would involve an interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not nurses) which will include questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms, your medical history and your family's mental health history. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be performed in conjunction with the clinical interview. This will help give a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, including the possibility of comorbidities that could be influencing your ADHD symptoms.
Your GP can assist you by writing a note stating that he would like to refer you for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can print out the template and present it to your GP. If they are unable to sign this form of consent for any reason it might be worth switching your GP particularly in the event that you plan to go on to apply for an Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.
If your GP will agree to the referral, there will be a short wait before you can meet with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is vital since it will be focused on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact your life today. You will be asked for examples and to explain how you've been performing in various aspects of your life.
After you've been officially diagnosed, your doctor will provide advice on treatment options. This could include talk therapies and behavioral interventions, and prescription medications. You will receive advice on how to manage ADHD and an assessment that will include recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you are an undergraduate student your doctor might suggest a shared-care arrangement with your GP in order to prescribe medications for you.
There are many professionals in the UK who don't know much about ADHD. This includes GPs as well as nurses and psychologists. This makes it difficult to get a diagnosis or access treatment. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults aren't treated, and that children aren't treated of it. It can be difficult to find a specialist who can listen and understand your condition.
Right to choose
If you reside in England and your GP consents to refer you for an ADHD assessment You have a legal right to choose which provider to refer you to. This is called the "Right to Choose". The only requirement is that the selected provider is covered by an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is recommended that you find out the waiting times of the provider prior to contacting them. You can do this by contacting directly or asking your GP for more details.
It is worth noting that GPs are only general practitioners, and therefore are not experts in diagnosing mental health problems, including adult ADHD. You may have convince your GP to refer you to a specialist to have an ADHD assessment. If you're 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 doctor cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only a doctor can make the diagnosis.
You should also inquire with your GP about their current waiting times for an ADHD assessment. If they are too long, you can exercise your Right to Choose and choose a different GP.
You will be asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire and participate in an interview when you visit have your ADHD assessed. The interview will usually be conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will be focused on your past experiences with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also focus on your current symptoms. It is recommended to prepare for this interview and bring a friend or family member to assist you.
It is also advisable to seek advice from your GP to consider different options for your medication. They may not want to prescribe stimulants, but they should be reminded there are medications that are not stimulant that can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and Atomoxetine. You might also consider cognitive-behavioral treatment 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 worried that your GP might have preconceived notions about what ADHD appears to be (this is a growing problem especially for women, people of colour and those assigned as female at birth), then you can self-refer to a private evaluation. Psychiatry-UK is the primary provider. They have an online guide that includes templates you can hand to your GP. They also have an extensive list of providers on their website and many of them provide online diagnosis and in-person.
A private assessment usually takes slightly longer than a typical appointment for psychiatric treatment and will consist of an organized interview with a psychiatrist. The interview will cover a variety of aspects of your life and how your symptoms affect your current performance. They will also look at your symptoms in a variety of contexts and situations. It is often helpful to have a family member or friend member give feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and give you a diagnosis.
They will inform you if they believe that you meet the criteria for ADHD, or if they believe a different condition is more appropriate to explain your behavior (symptoms). If they do not think you meet the criteria, they will explain why and you can ask them to refer you back.
After receiving the diagnosis, it's your decision whether to decide to take medication or not. You will need to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to obtain a shared care agreement for medication through your GP and this could save you money in the long term.
You should not depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis via the internet or any self-diagnosis software as they could be inaccurate. It is crucial to obtain a professional, impartial assessment to ensure that you get the most effective results. Based on your specific circumstances and whether or not you're willing to take medication, there could be other resources available to help ease your symptoms. If you are a university student for instance you may request an assessment. They can provide you with advice on reasonable adjustments as well as the Disabled Student's allowance.