How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
Your GP can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If you are waiting a long time, request your GP to use Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their healthcare provider.
A psychiatrist will assess your condition through a structured clinical interview, and will focus on the various areas of your life that your symptoms are affecting on. They may ask for your childhood records and school reports.
Find a psychiatrist
Psychiatrists specialize in mental health, and can prescribe medications to treat ADHD. They can also provide talk therapy. If you are insured the visits of your psychiatrist should be covered. Contact your insurance company if uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are covered by your insurance. You could also ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatric specialist or search online for local services. If you don't have insurance, you may opt for an independent service. Make sure the Psychiatrist is certified and has experience working with ADHD patients.
Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what someone with ADHD appears like. This makes it difficult to recognize the person with ADHD. Medical professionals don't have the required training or experience to diagnose adult ADHD. You will have to do some research to find an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly determine your symptoms and diagnose you correctly.
Once you find a psychiatrist, it is essential to establish a trusting relationship with them. This is crucial, particularly in the event that you plan on taking medication for ADHD. Think about seeking out a new psychiatrist if you are not comfortable with the one you currently have. It is essential to feel comfortable with your physician however, you should not settle for anything less.
Your doctor can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a thorough clinical assessment. This usually involves a survey and a discussion with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms affect your life in various social situations. The psychologist will analyze your results to determine if you fit the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis.
In England You have the option of choosing the place where you receive your NHS assessments. You can pick from a list of NHS providers that are provided by the NHS. Some of these providers are able to provide online assessments for adults which can cut wait times significantly.
Ask your GP
If you have a GP who is knowledgeable of ADHD they may be happy to refer you for an NHS diagnosis. In the UK, this will involve an interview in a clinic with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not nurses), which will include questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as medical history and the mental health history of your family. Neuropsychological tests could also be conducted in addition to the clinical interview. This is to help provide an accurate picture of your strengths and weaknesses, which includes the possibility of comorbidities that could be influencing your ADHD symptoms.
Your GP can help you by writing a note stating that he would like to refer you for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can download a template from ADHD UK to print off and give to your GP. If they refuse to do this for any reason, it could be worth changing your GP particularly in the event that you plan to to apply for an Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.
If your GP does agree to make the referral, there will be a brief time before you are able to meet with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is essential because it will concentrate on your ADHD symptoms and how they affect your life today. You will be asked to present examples and be prepared to talk about how you've performed in different areas of your life.
After you've been diagnosed your specialist will advise on treatment options. These could include talking therapy, behavioural interventions, and prescription drugs. You will receive advice on how to manage ADHD and the report will contain recommendations for continuing treatment. If you are a student it is likely that your therapist will recommend a shared-care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medications for you.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of professionals in the UK including GPs, nurses and psychologists who are not knowledgeable about ADHD. This makes it difficult to receive a diagnosis or access treatment. adult adhd diagnosis uk might be told that you don't need treatment because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t receive treatment. Children are said to develop ADHD. It's not easy to find a professional who can listen and comprehend the symptoms.
Right to choose
If you reside in England and your GP consents to refer you for an ADHD assessment you have the legal right to choose which provider to refer you to. This is referred to as the 'Right to Choice'. The only condition is that the 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 time of the provider prior to contacting them. You can do this by contacting them directly or asking your GP for more information.
It is worth noting that GPs are only general practitioners and are not experts in diagnosing mental health issues, including adult ADHD. You may have to convince your GP to send you to a specialist to receive an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to do this then the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can download and print to give your GP. This includes quotes from NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and only an expert can make this diagnosis.
It is also advisable to ask your GP about their current waiting times for an ADHD assessment. If the waiting time is too long, you may make use of your Right to Choice and choose a different provider.
When you visit for your ADHD assessment, you will be asked to complete a survey and attend an interview. The interview will usually be conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will center on your past experience with ADHD and how it affected your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. It is recommended to prepare for the interview and bring a family member to support you.
You should also seek advice from your GP to look into medication options for you. They may not be able to prescribe stimulants, however they must be reminded that there are non-stimulant drugs that can help manage ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate and dexamphetamine as well as Atomoxetine. You can also try cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults suffering from ADHD.
Private Assessment
If you're not satisfied waiting for the NHS to refer you, or if you are concerned your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD looks like (this is a rising problem especially for women, people of colour and those assigned as female at birth) If you are concerned about this, then self-refer to a private assessment. The main provider of the assessments is Psychiatry-UK They have a great guide for taking this step on their website which includes template forms that you can hand to your GP. On their website, they provide a list of the providers. Most of them offer both online and in-person diagnosis.
A private evaluation will typically be slightly longer than a typical psychotherapy visit. It will also include an organized interview. The interview will cover various aspects of your life and how your symptoms impact your current state of functioning. They will also look at your symptoms in various contexts and settings. It is often beneficial to have someone in your family or a close friend to give feedback. The psychiatrist will analyze their findings and inform you of your diagnosis.
They will inform you if you believe that you meet the ADHD criteria or if a different condition best explains your symptoms (traits). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will tell you the reason and you can ask them to refer you again.
After receiving an diagnosis, it's up to you whether you decide to take medication or not. It is necessary to have a discussion with your GP. You may be able get a shared-care agreement for medications through your GP. This could save you money over the course of time.
It is not recommended to rely on getting an ADHD diagnosis via the internet or other self-diagnosis tools as these can be inaccurate. You should seek a professional and objective assessment to get the best results. Based on your situation and whether or not you're willing to take medication, there may be other options that can ease your symptoms. For instance, if are an undergraduate, you could obtain an assessment from your university. They can provide you with suggestions on how to make reasonable adjustments, and Disabled Student's Allowance.