How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You can be referred to the NHS ADHD assessment by your doctor. If the wait time is very long, consider asking your GP to make use of the law that gives patients rights to choose their healthcare providers and treatment providers - referred to as Right to Choose. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured meeting to determine your symptoms and the impacts on different aspects of your life. They may ask for your school and childhood histories as well as reports. Find a psychiatrist They can prescribe medications for ADHD. They can also provide talk therapy. If you are insured the visits of your psychiatrist should be covered. Contact your insurer if you're uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are covered by your insurance. You can also ask your GP for the referral to a psychiatrist specialist or search for local services on the internet. If you do not have insurance, you may choose to go through a private service. But, ensure that the Psychiatrist you select is licensed and has worked with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what a person with ADHD is like. This can be a problem when trying to establish an accurate diagnosis. A lot of medical professionals do not have the required knowledge or training to diagnose adult ADHD. You'll have to do some research to locate an adult ADHD expert who can accurately diagnose your symptoms. It is crucial to establish a relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you've discovered one. This is important, especially in the event that you plan on taking medication for ADHD. If you are uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, think about looking for a different one. While it is important to feel comfortable with a physician, you should not be forced to settle for less than you're entitled to. Your doctor can refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a thorough clinical assessment. The typical assessment involves a survey and a discussion with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in various social settings. The psychologist will then review your results and determine whether you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose the place where you receive your NHS assessments. The NHS offers a list providers, and you are able to utilize your Right to Choose to choose the one that is most convenient for you. Some of these providers provide online assessments for adults which can cut the time it takes to wait by a significant amount. Ask your GP If you have a GP who is well-aware of ADHD they may be happy to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK it will require a clinic interview with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not nurse) that will comprise questionnaires about ADHD symptoms as well as medical history and family mental health background. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be conducted as well as the clinical interview. This will give you more information about your strengths, weaknesses, and any comorbidities that could be affecting your ADHD. Your GP can help you by writing a note informing you that he would like to refer you to an assessment under Right to Choose. You can print out an example and present it to your GP. If they decline for any reason, it may 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 the referral then there will be a short wait before you get to meet with the specialist. Preparing for the interview is vital, as it will likely focus on your ADHD symptoms and how they affect your life today. You'll be asked to give examples and be prepared to talk about how you've performed in various areas of your life. Following a formal diagnosis, your specialist will provide you with treatment options. These may include talk therapy, behavioural interventions and prescription medications. You will be coached on how to manage your ADHD and given an evaluation with recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you are a university student, your specialist may recommend an arrangement of shared-care with your GP in order to prescribe medication for you. Unfortunately, there are a lot of professionals in the UK from GPs to nurses and psychologists who are not knowledgeable about ADHD. This makes it difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis or get treatment. https://www.adhddiagnosis.top/ may be told you don't require treatment because you don't have hyperactivity. Or that adults don’t receive treatment. Or that children don't be able to overcome ADHD. It can be a challenge to find a professional who will listen and comprehend your condition. Right to Choose If you live in England and your GP agrees to refer you for an ADHD assessment You have a legal right to choose the provider you wish to refer you to. This is known as the "Right to Choice". The only condition is that the provider is registered under an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is also recommended to know the waiting times for the service of your choice before you contact them. You can learn more by calling the provider directly or asking your GP. It is important to know that GPs only practice as general practitioners, and are therefore not experts at diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. So, you might have convince your GP that you should be referred by a specialist for an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to convince your GP that they should refer you to a specialist, you could print and download an email from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidelines which state that a doctor can't refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only a doctor can make the diagnosis. You should also inquire with your GP about the current waiting times for an ADHD assessment. If the waiting time is too long, you could use your Right to Choice and choose another provider. You will be asked to complete an assessment questionnaire and participate in an interview when you go to get your ADHD evaluated. Interviews are usually conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will concentrate on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. You should prepare in advance for the interview and bring a family member to help you. You should also seek advice from your GP to look into different options for your medication. They might be hesitant to prescribe stimulants, but they should be aware that there is a variety of non-stimulant medications which can help control the symptoms of ADHD. These include methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and Atomoxetine. In addition, you can also try cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy for adults with ADHD. Private Assessment You can have an assessment privately when you don't wish to wait for the NHS or if your GP has preconceived beliefs about what ADHD is (this is an issue that is increasing, especially among women or people of color, as well as women born to females). The main provider of these assessments is Psychiatry-UK They offer a useful guide for doing this on their website that includes template forms that you can provide to your GP. On their website, they offer a list of providers. They provide both in-person and online diagnosis. A private evaluation will typically be slightly longer than a regular appointment with a psychiatrist and will include a structured interview. This will include a variety of aspects of your life and how your symptoms affect your current state of functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in different environments and situations. It is usually helpful to have a family member or acquaintance to provide feedback. The psychiatrist will review their findings and provide you with a diagnosis. They will tell 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 explain the reason and you can ask them to refer you again. After receiving a diagnosis, you are able to decide whether you want to go down the route of medication or not. You will need to discuss this with your GP, you may be able to get an agreement on shared care for medications through your GP and this can save you money in the long run. It is not recommended to be relying on an ADHD diagnosis from the internet or any self-diagnosis software as they could be inaccurate. You should seek a professional and objective assessment to get the best results. Based on the severity of your symptoms and whether or not you are willing to accept medication, other support may be available. If you're a student at a university for instance, you can request an assessment. They can provide you with suggestions on how to make reasonable adjustments, and Disabled Student's Allowance.