ADHD Assessment in the UK
A thorough diagnostic assessment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. This will involve screening questionnaires sent out beforehand as well as an interview with you, ideally someone who has a good understanding of you since childhood, a review of historical school reports (if available) and a full psychiatric consultation.
The NHS has specific guidelines for ADHD evaluations. Many people choose to consult a private healthcare provider in order to accelerate the process and avoid lengthy waiting lists.
What is an ADHD assessment?
A healthcare professional can listen to your concerns and help you get to the bottom of them with an ADHD assessment. You will be working with a seasoned psychiatrist to discover what's going on and how it could be impacting your life. They will assess you with a variety of tools such as symptom checklists or rating scales. They will also consider any family history and past experiences of mental health problems. The psychiatrist will then confirm which of three major subtypes you may be suffering from.
The specialist will also confirm the absence of any other medical or psychological conditions that could cause similar symptoms to ADHD. This is important as when you are misdiagnosed as having ADHD your symptoms may not improve. The specialist will also assess the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily activities with the same criteria an NHS specialist would employ.
Make a list ahead of time of any questions or concerns you might have. This can help ensure that all your requirements are met and that no detail is left unanswered. It is also a good idea to make notes of any particular issues you've been experiencing. You can remember these things better when you record them. It can also make the process for receiving an ADHD diagnosis more effective.
It is also recommended to bring any relevant documents with you to your appointment. This could include performance evaluations you receive from your job or old report cards from school. If you have any medical or educational records that could be used to show the effect of ADHD on your life, they can be useful for the specialist to have as well.
You might be asked to fill out pre-screening questions prior to your appointment. These can be completed through your portal dashboard and will typically be available to fill out before you meet with the psychiatrist. This should be completed as soon as you can, as it will reduce the amount of time you'll wait.
How can I get an ADHD assessment?
A diagnosis of ADHD could be the first step towards getting the assistance and support you need. In the UK the GP cannot diagnose ADHD however they can refer an assessment to a psychologist or psychiatrist who are the only healthcare professionals in the country qualified to make the diagnosis (and prescribe medication if necessary).
The NHS will fund an ADHD assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. The assessment will last between 45 and 90 minutes. You will be asked questions regarding your general mental health as well as your family's history of mental health and the symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor will also assess any other psychological or medical conditions that could be causing the symptoms you are experiencing.
Your doctor will also ask whether you've had similar issues. This is because current diagnostic guidelines state that you will only be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult if your symptoms have been present since childhood.
If you've had these symptoms since you were a teenager Your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also examine any other factors that may affect your symptoms, such as stress and anxiety. They may also suggest that you join an online group-based ADHD education and support programme or suggest other therapies, like cognitive behavior therapy.
If you reside in England and are having difficulty getting a NHS-funded ADHD evaluation, you can benefit from your Right to Choose. This means that you can choose to go private if you are satisfied with the wait time for an NHS assessment or if you wish to avoid waiting altogether. Private assessments are more expensive, but they will provide you access to treatment. Your specialist will provide with a thorough report you can bring to your GP. They will also discuss any medications or other treatment options recommended with you. If you request, they'll also send a recommendation letter to your school or work place. This could be an additional cost based on the amount of time required to write the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
A psychiatric evaluation is the first step in an ADHD assessment. Your doctor will ask questions regarding your health, lifestyle, family, and development. They will also provide you with standard questionnaires. They might also request opinions from friends, teachers coaches, spouses, or even coaches. These interviews are not intended to judge you, but to identify other factors that could be causing your symptoms, like anxiety or depression.
During link , your doctor may review any documents you bring with them, like copies of previous psychological tests or old school reports. The evaluation will also involve talking to the person who knows you best for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. This is done to gather details about your childhood, as you might have forgotten specific details or your behavior may have changed over time.
The psychiatrist will also analyse any information you have provided in the standardised questionnaires prior your appointment, so that they will have a clear picture of your symptoms. They will also review any other historical data such as school records from the past or a medical or neurological exam. This is to make sure that you meet the standardized criteria for ADHD. For children, this is at least six established ADHD behaviors in one of the two categories of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity over a period of six months. Adults must show at least five signs that have been identified over the same time period.
Once they have gathered all the relevant information the psychiatrist will conduct a clinical interview with you. The psychiatrist will review all the information gathered to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms. This means evaluating your symptoms by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
If your psychiatrist concludes that you have ADHD, he or she will write a report to your GP. The GP will decide on the best treatment plan, which could include pharmacological treatment (medication) and psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you have the option of choosing your healthcare provider. If you do not want to wait to get an ADHD assessment from the NHS you can consult your own personal doctor.
What happens after a ADHD assessment?
The process of getting a professional ADHD diagnosis can have a profound impact on your life. It can aid you in getting treatment and lessen feelings of confusion or self-doubt.
The first thing you should do if you suspect that you or your child may have ADHD is to speak with an GP. They can refer you directly to a psychiatrist or psychologist who is the only UK healthcare professional qualified to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients can wait for months to get a referral, so many opt to seek out private therapy instead.
After you have been directed to an assessment and/or your child will be interviewed in person by your clinician. The interview will include topics such as development, health, family history, and lifestyle. The doctor may also ask you to speak to other individuals such as teachers or daycare providers. This isn't meant to test your answers, but to understand the way your symptoms impact your child or yourself in various situations.
The clinician will use rating scales as well to determine the frequency of certain symptoms like anxiety or difficulty focusing. This will determine if you meet the standardized criteria for ADHD. They will also discuss whether there are any other issues that you might have, such as anxiety or depression. If you have an ancestral history of ADHD it is worthwhile notifying your doctor about this too, as there are genetic influences on the likelihood of developing the condition.
Following the psychiatric examination your doctor will draft a detailed report that you can take to your GP. This report will include an extensive diagnosis and recommended treatment.
If you have been diagnosed as an adult suffering from ADHD Your GP may recommend that you try medication. If the medication works it is important to inform your insurance company as well as the DVLA, because you will be required to renew your driving license. Your therapist might suggest that you and your child go to an educational class for parents to learn together how to manage ADHD. This can improve your relationship with your child and help you become more secure as a parent.