How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If the wait time is very long, consider asking your GP to use the law that grants patients rights to choose their healthcare providers called Right to Choose. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured meeting to evaluate your symptoms and the impacts on different aspects of your life. They will request evidence, including childhood histories school reports may be requested. Find a psychiatrist They may prescribe medication for ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you have health insurance the cost of your doctor's visit will be covered. Contact your insurance company if unsure if a psychiatrist is covered by your insurance. You could also request your GP for an appointment with a psychiatric specialist or look up local services online. If you don't have insurance then you can go through a private service. Make sure https://www.adhddiagnosis.top/ is certified and has experience working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what a person with ADHD appears to be. This can be problematic when trying to establish an assessment. In addition, many medical professionals are not educated in adult ADHD and do not have a lot of hands-on experience with it. You will have to do some research to find an adult ADHD specialist who can evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you correctly. When you have found a psychiatrist, it is essential to establish a trusting relationship with them. This is important, especially when you are planning to start taking medication for ADHD. You should consider finding a new psychiatrist if you feel uncomfortable with the one you currently have. 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 specialist with ADHD for a clinical evaluation. This usually includes a questionnaire as well as a discussion with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms affect your life in various social settings. The psychologist will then analyze your results and determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose the location where you will receive your NHS assessments. You can pick from a list of NHS providers that are provided by the NHS. Some of these providers can provide online assessments for adults, which can dramatically reduce waiting times. Ask your GP If you have an GP who has good understanding of ADHD they might be able to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this would involve a clinical interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not nurse) which will include questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history and your family mental health history. Neuropsychological tests can also be conducted in conjunction with the interview. This will help to provide an accurate picture of your strengths, weaknesses, and comorbid conditions that may be influencing 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 give to your GP. If they refuse for reasons of any kind, it might be worth re-evaluating your GP. This is particularly relevant if you intend to apply for a Shared Care Agreement in the future. If your GP accepts to refer you, you'll have to wait a few days before meeting with the specialist. Preparing for the interview is crucial, as it will likely be focused on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact 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. After a formal diagnosis the doctor will provide you with treatment options. These may include talk therapies and behavioral interventions, as well as prescription drugs. You will be provided with advice on how to manage ADHD and a report that includes recommendations for continuing treatment. If you're an undergraduate student your doctor might suggest an arrangement for shared-care with your GP to prescribe medications for you. There are a lot of professionals in the UK who don't know much about ADHD. This includes doctors and nurses, as well as psychologists. This makes it difficult to obtain a diagnosis or access treatment. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive, that adults aren't treated, and that children get rid of it. It's not easy to find a professional who is willing to listen and comprehend the condition. Right to pick If you live in England, and your GP is in agreement that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by a third party, you have a right to choose the provider. This is called the "Right to Choose". The only requirement for a provider to be able to offer the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is recommended to find out the waiting times of the service provider prior to calling them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more details. It is important to know that GPs only practice as general practitioners, and therefore, are not experts in diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. You may have convince your GP to recommend you to a specialist to have an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to do this, the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can print and download to hand to your GP. This includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP is not able to refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only a specialist can make this diagnosis. You should also ask your GP about their current waiting times for an ADHD assessment. If the waiting time is too long, you may utilize your Right to Choose and select a different provider. When you go for your ADHD assessment you will be required to fill out a questionnaire and attend an interview. Interviews are typically conducted by a specialist nurse or psychiatrist. The interview will focus on your experience with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. You should prepare in advance for this interview and bring a friend or family member to help you. Ask your GP about medication options. They might not wish to prescribe stimulants, but they must be reminded that there are medications that are not stimulant that can be used to manage ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate and dexamphetamine as well as Atomoxetine. You might also consider cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD. Private Assessment If you're not satisfied waiting for the NHS to refer you, or you are concerned that your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD appears to be (this is a growing issue particularly for women, people of colour and those assigned female at birth) If you are concerned about this, then self-refer for a private assessment. The main provider of these assessments is Psychiatry-UK and they offer a useful guide for taking this step on their website which includes a template form that you can give to your GP. They also have an inventory of providers on their website and most of them offer online diagnosis and in person. A private assessment usually takes slightly longer than a normal psychiatric appointment and will include an organized interview with a psychiatrist. This will include a variety of aspects of your life and how your symptoms impact your current functioning. They will also look at your symptoms in various contexts and situations. It is often helpful to have a family member or friend member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and give you a diagnosis. They will tell you if they believe that you have the right criteria for ADHD, or if they believe another condition is more appropriate to explain your behavior (symptoms). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will let you know why and you can ask them to refer you back. After you have received a diagnosis, you can decide whether you want to pursue the route of medication or not. You'll have to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to sign an agreement on shared care for medication through your GP and this can save you money in the long term. It is not recommended to rely on getting an ADHD diagnosis from the internet or other self-diagnosis tools as these can be a false diagnosis. It is important that you obtain a professional, impartial assessment to ensure you receive the best possible results. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and if you are willing to take medications, other assistance may be available. For instance, if you are a student, you can obtain an assessment from your university. They can offer advice on reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Student's Allowance.