How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK

You may be referred to the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If the wait is extremely long, you should consider asking your GP to refer you to the law that grants patients the right to choose their healthcare providers called Right to Choose.

A psychiatrist will conduct an interview to evaluate your symptoms and impact on various aspects of your life. They may ask for your school and childhood histories as well as reports.

Find a Psychiatrist

They can prescribe medication for ADHD. They can also offer therapy for talking. If you are insured the visits of your psychiatrist should be covered. Contact your insurance provider if you're uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are included in your network. You may also ask your GP for the referral to a psychiatrist specialist or look up local services on the internet. 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 experience with ADHD patients.

Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone who has ADHD appears to be. This can be a problem when trying to establish an assessment. In addition, a lot of medical professionals aren't trained in adult ADHD and don't have a lot of hands-on experience with it. You'll need to work hard to find an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly assess your symptoms and accurately diagnose you.

Once you find a psychiatrist, it is important to build a trusting relationship with them. This is especially important if you plan to begin taking medication for ADHD. If you're not comfortable with your psychiatrist, consider looking for a different one. It is crucial to feel comfortable with your doctor but you shouldn't settle for anything less.

Your GP may refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. The typical assessment involves a questionnaire and a discussion with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in different social situations. The psychologist will then look at your results and determine whether you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis.

In England, you can choose the location where you will receive your NHS assessments. The NHS offers a list providers, and you can use your right to Choose to select the one that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers can provide assessments online to adults, which can significantly reduce wait times.

Ask your GP

If you have an GP who has good understanding of ADHD they may be happy to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this would involve a clinical interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not a nurse) that will include a questionnaire on ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history, and your family's mental health background. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be conducted along with the interview. This will help to provide more information about your strengths, weaknesses and any comorbidities that could influence your ADHD.

Your GP can help you by writing a letter stating that he wants to refer you for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can download the template from ADHD UK to print off and present to your GP. If they decline for reasons of any kind, it might be worth changing your GP. This is particularly relevant if you intend to apply for a Shared Care Agreement in the future.

If your GP will agree to refer you to a specialist, then you'll have to wait a few weeks before meeting with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is crucial because it will focus on your ADHD symptoms and how they are affecting your life at present. You'll be asked to provide examples and be prepared for a discussion about how you've performed in different areas of your life.

After you've been officially diagnosed, your doctor will provide advice on treatment options. These could include talking therapy, behavioural interventions, and prescription medications. You will be provided with advice on how to manage ADHD and the report will contain suggestions for treatment that is ongoing. If you're a student at a university Your doctor may suggest an arrangement of shared-care with your GP to prescribe medication for you.

There are a lot of professionals in the UK, from GPs to psychologists and nurses, who have little knowledge about ADHD. This makes the process of obtaining a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You may be told you don't require treatment because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t get treated. Children are said to be able to overcome ADHD. It can be challenging to find a professional that can listen and understand your situation.

Right to choose

If you reside in England and your GP agrees to refer you to an ADHD assessment You have the legal right to choose the provider you wish to refer you to. This is called the "Right to Choice". The only requirement for the provider to be able to provide the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is recommended to also find out the waiting times of the service provider prior to calling them. You can do this by calling directly or asking your GP for more information.

You should be aware that GPs only practice as general practitioners and therefore are not experts in diagnosing mental disorders such as adult ADHD. So, you might have to convince your GP that you should 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 a letter from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. This includes quotes from NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only a specialist can make the diagnosis for adhd in adults.

Ask your GP what their current waiting times are for an ADHD assessment. If they are too high you may exercise your Right of Choice and choose a different GP.

You will be asked to complete the questionnaire, and then attend an interview when you go to have your ADHD assessed. Interviews are typically conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will focus on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also look at your current symptoms. You should prepare in advance for the interview and bring a family member to assist you.

You should also seek advice from your GP to think about possible different options for your medication. They may be reluctant to prescribe stimulants but they should be aware that there are a variety of non-stimulant drugs that can assist in managing the symptoms of ADHD. They include methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and the atomoxetine (Strateva). Additionally, you could also try cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy for 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 is like (this is a growing issue especially for women, people of color and those who were deemed as female at birth) If you are concerned about this, then self-refer for a private assessment. Psychiatry-UK is the primary provider. They have an online guide that includes templates you can give to the GP. They also have a list of providers on their website and most of them offer online diagnosis as well as in person.

A private assessment will usually be a little longer than a typical psychiatric visit and include an in-depth interview. The session will cover different aspects of your life, and the way your symptoms affect your current performance. They will also examine your symptoms in different contexts and settings. It is usually helpful to have family members or a friend who can give feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and give you an assessment.

They will tell if you believe you are in line with the ADHD criteria or if a different condition best explains your symptoms (traits). If they don't think you're in the right category, they will tell you why, and you can ask for an additional referral.

Once you have received a diagnosis, you can decide whether you want to pursue the path of medication or not. It is necessary to have a discussion with your GP. You might be able to obtain a shared-care agreement for medication via your GP. This could save you money over time.

You should not depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis on the internet or self-diagnosis tool as they can be inaccurate. It is recommended to get a qualified and objective assessment to receive the best possible outcome. Based on the severity of your symptoms and if you are willing to accept medication, other treatment options may be available. For women instance, if are a student, you can obtain an assessment from your university. They can provide you with reasonable adjustments and Disabled Students the'Allowance.