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How to Get an ADHD Assessment in the UK The process of getting an ADHD assessment from the NHS isn't always easy. The waiting lists can be long, and people may be diagnosed with other disorders that better explain their difficulties such as anxiety or depression. Your GP should listen to your concerns and be able to understand why you believe you may be suffering from ADHD. Your GP should then refer you to the NHS to conduct an assessment. 1. See your GP In England and Wales in England and Wales, you can get the ADHD assessment through the NHS. If psychiatry-uk adhd assessment is recommended for you, you may be able to obtain it. You will need to see your GP and explain how you suspect that you may have ADHD, and what effect it is having on your life. Your GP should take this seriously and may require you to fill out some questionnaires or a screening tool before they send you to a specialist to have an assessment. Adults should create an inventory of the specific ADHD signs and symptoms they encounter on a daily basis. Be prepared to give examples when asked. Your psychiatrist will collaborate closely with you to determine if you have ADHD. They will use various methods and tools, including symptom checklists and behaviour rating scales. They will also interview you, your family members, and others who know you very well. They will consider the information they gather and then write an assessment report. They will then discuss with you what their recommendation is, which may be that you are suffering from an ADHD diagnosis and, if it is appropriate it is recommended that you begin treatment with a medication. You may find that some doctors are not willing to recommend you for an assessment or will not be able to prescribe ADHD medication on the NHS, in which case it is worth finding a different GP who can be more accommodating. The charity Psychiatry-UK has some great tips on this issue on their website here. In England, you have the legal right to decide where your GP recommends you to receive an ADHD assessment, so long that the service is offered through the NHS and doesn't cost you more than the NHS directly. If you're not able to agree with your local CCG you can approach ICAS for help in making an appeal to the national Appeal Panel. If you live in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales the NHS has different guidelines and regulations. You may be able to try accessing services through Right to Choose, and Psychiatry-UK has some suggestions on this subject here. 2. Request a recommendation There are two ways to obtain an ADHD evaluation, depending on where you live. You can first use the NHS by asking your GP to refer you. This is a lengthy process and you may need to wait years for an answer. Alternately, you can opt for the 'Right to Choose option. This is a new legal right that means that when you feel that the NHS wait times for an ADHD assessment are too long, you can request to be sent to a private practitioner via this route. If you choose to do this, then your GP must agree to this, and sign a “shared-care agreement” with the service provider you've selected. However, most GPs do not like signing shared care agreements for patients who have been diagnosed privately, particularly because they aren't experts in the diagnosis of ADHD and the prescription of its medication. In the majority of instances, you will be able to make an appointment with the private service you prefer. Before completing the initial assessment the ADHD specialist will interview you and your child if they are older than 11 years old. of age. The doctor will inform you whether they believe your symptoms are related to ADHD or not. After the initial evaluation If it is determined that ADHD might be causing your problems then they will usually send you away with some additional questionnaires to fill out for your workplace or school. Then they will arrange a follow-up appointment with you to discuss their findings and provide a diagnosis. This appointment will give you the chance to discuss medication options. If they determine that medication is necessary then your GP will be informed and requested to prescribe the medication to you. Any other recommendations relating to support at work or school will be discussed with your specialist and any costs for this will be discussed before starting. The majority of private providers provide assistance and advice for free between appointments through email or short phone calls. 3. Take advantage of an assessment Getting an ADHD diagnosis in the UK can be difficult and often, it's mistakenly interpreted as other mental health disorders. The best way to get a diagnosis of ADHD is through an assessment conducted by a qualified consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the condition. You might have to wait a while to get an assessment through the NHS. If you're worried about waiting times, ask your GP about 'Right to Choose', a brand new NHS initiative that grants you the ability to choose the clinic to which you are referred for your examination. This allows you to skip the NHS waiting list and could make the process much quicker. If you are undergoing an ADHD assessment the psychiatrist will collect an in-depth account of your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They will then conduct a structured clinical assessment using standardised questionnaires. It can be beneficial to learn about the characteristics (symptoms) of ADHD before your appointment and write down examples, as it is common for people's minds to be completely blank when discussing their own experiences. The assessment will include physical examinations as well as interviews with family members, teachers, members, and colleagues. The psychiatrist will require precise and complete information in order to determine the most appropriate diagnosis. If the psychiatrist suspects that you or your children suffer from ADHD, he will recommend you to a program for adults with ADHD. This is an additional appointment that may include a range of tests like brain images and psychological tests to determine the severity of ADHD. Some people choose to go private for their ADHD assessment. This is becoming more popular as waiting lists through the NHS continue to grow. There are many organizations in the UK that provide private assessments for ADHD according to where you live. You can look up a list here, or you can consult your GP about which one is the best one for you. Private assessments can be quicker than those conducted through the NHS. However your health insurance will not cover the cost. 4. Get a diagnosis ADHD can cause major issues in different areas of life, for example work or relationships, so an accurate diagnosis can ease these problems. Unfortunately, because of a increasing number of people requiring ADHD assessments, NHS services are struggling to keep up with demand and wait for appointments can be lengthy. Some people opt to pay for their assessments privately. This allows them to avoid NHS waiting lists and start treatment sooner. If you've been diagnosed with ADHD, the next step is putting a treatment plan together. This could be medication, or CBT therapy. It is crucial to consider this prior to when you get your assessment, as it will help determine what the best option for you will be. You could be eligible to receive an ADHD assessment through the NHS depending on the location you reside in the UK. If this is the situation you'll be referred to a paediatrician or psychiatrist who will assess your symptoms and determine a diagnosis on the basis of the NICE 87 guidelines. Self-referral is available in the event that you don't have a GP referral. A private mental health practitioner will conduct an ADHD assessment. This is typically faster than the NHS method, but you must ensure whether your GP has a “Shared Care Agreement” with your private doctor. Your specialist will ask questions regarding your past and current behaviours. They will look for traits (symptoms) of ADHD, such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsiveness. They will also ask about how these traits impact your life today. Before you go to an appointment, it's important to know the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and write down examples of how these characteristics have affected your life. A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It can lead to many treatments and offer a greater sense of self-understanding for adults who were previously not diagnosed. It can also lead to better relationships and a more fulfilled life.