How to Get an ADHD Assessment on the NHS
There are a lot of differences in the quality of adult ADHD assessment reports and assessments. This is not acceptable and must be addressed.
You will receive a pre-screening questionnaire to complete, which your psychiatrist will review before you meet. This will ensure that your consultation is run smoothly and without the need for lengthy appointments.
Signs and symptoms
If you are having trouble concentrating, restlessness or managing your emotions, it's worth consulting a doctor about whether ADHD might be the cause. About 2.6 million people in the UK have ADHD, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way the brain functions. However, it is crucial to recognize that there are other conditions that might be causing your problems and should be considered before you are able to be diagnosed as having ADHD.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms when you undergo an ADHD assessment. They'll also inquire about how long you have been experiencing these symptoms, and how they impact your daily life. They will then determine if you are in compliance with the criteria outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They will also solicit input from people who know you and look at how your symptoms affect your daily activities.
Psychiatrists have plenty of experience diagnosing ADHD. They will likely be able tell you within a few minutes if you fit the criteria. If they are not sure they'll take an extensive psychiatric assessment and look at your other health issues. This will include examining other conditions that can coexist with ADHD and those that could result in the wrong diagnosis of ADHD like depression or anxiety.
If you're having difficulty obtaining an ADHD assessment through the NHS, there are private providers who can provide assessments via a video call. The details of these providers on our Getting an ADHD Assessment page and we suggest to look over the waiting times before you decide on one. You can consult your GP or call the service directly to learn the time they are waiting for an assessment. Some providers also provide treatment following an assessment so If this is important to you then make sure that they offer this service. Certain providers have agreements to offer this service with local NHS Trusts, so check with your GP about the arrangements in your area.
Diagnosis
If you suspect you have ADHD and you suspect it, you may request your GP to refer you for an assessment. It is important to remember that GPs are not able to diagnose ADHD themselves. They can only provide information about your symptoms and request for an appointment with an expert in mental health.
You can be assessed by psychiatrists. The specialist will talk to you about your life and medical history, as well as asking questions about how your ADHD symptoms impact your daily life. They might also ask you to complete questionnaires and rating scales.
The process of assessment is based on the guidelines set by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Your specialist will look at your current symptoms as well as how they affected you as when you were a child. They will also consider comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. These criteria will be used to determine whether you suffer from ADHD.
Finding out that you have ADHD can be a challenge for a lot of people. This can be due to the stigma associated with the condition, as well as the lack of awareness among health professionals. People belonging to certain groups may be subject to discrimination when they seek treatment for their symptoms, such as people of color, women assigned at birth, or non-native English speaking people.
It isn't easy to obtain an accurate diagnosis because there is no test that can establish the presence of ADHD. If ADHD is the root cause there are many who are misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety. This can lead to significant difficulties in professional and personal relationships, as well as in day-to-day functioning.
The NHS offers a Right to Choose Service for adult ADHD Assessments. If you are dissatisfied with the wait times at your local NHS services You can choose to go to a different provider through the Right to Choose scheme. We've compiled a list of providers that offer ADHD assessments under this scheme. To find out the timeframes for waiting, contact the service providers.
Treatment
ADHD sufferers have a variety of treatment options. They include medication, psychosocial support, or both. The most appropriate choice for each individual will depend on their individual requirements and circumstances. Medications can help to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning, while psychosocial therapy can address any co-existing conditions like depression or anxiety.
A person suffering from ADHD can also benefit from making reasonable adjustments to their surroundings like changing seating arrangements or reducing distracting factors in educational or work settings. This can be accomplished with the guidance of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
In addition to assessing for ADHD, the specialist will also look at whether there are any other mental health issues that frequently accompany or appear to mimic ADHD in adults. This will be done by reviewing symptoms checklists and soliciting feedback from people who are familiar with the person like family members and friends.
If a medical professional believes that the person has the characteristics of ADHD They will then discuss the treatment options. The most commonly used treatments are stimulants that increase concentration and reduce impulsiveness. They are available in tablets or injections, and can have both short and long-term effects.
Other medications may be prescribed to control negative side effects, including eating disorders and sleep problems that are often related to ADHD. Some people may also benefit from psychosocial therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, which can assist to manage underlying anxiety or depressive symptoms.
GPs are legally obliged to refer patients who have concerns regarding ADHD for an assessment and treatment. However, the NHS has a backlog of ADHD assessments that could take up to eight years to get rid of according to the BBC's investigation, through FOI requests. This is a long period of waiting for a service that is essential. Many people opt to go the route of private assessment because they are able to self-refer and have direct access to specialists.
Support
The first step to getting an ADHD assessment on the NHS is to visit your GP. They should take your concerns seriously and ask you to explain the reasons you think you be suffering from ADHD. They may request you to complete a screening tool to see whether you're eligible to receive an appointment. Once your GP has accepted to refer you, they'll put you on the NHS waiting list.
The average wait time for an NHS adult ADHD assessment in England is two years. The high demand for this service is the reason some areas are struggling with keeping up.
If you're worried about the length of time you will be waiting for an appointment, you might consider writing a letter to your GP explaining what you need. This will assist them to be aware of the importance of the examination and ensure that your request gets acted on. adhd diagnostic assessment can download a sample letter from ADHD UK here.
After you've been recommended for an appointment, you'll be scheduled for an appointment with a specialist psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. In adhd uk assessment of the assessment, they'll review your symptoms and examine any mental health history that could be the cause of your ADHD symptoms. They'll also discuss your lifestyle and how ADHD affects your day-to-day life. The assessment can last between 45 and 90 minutes, and can be done in person or by video conference.
If your GP refers you for an NHS ADHD assessment and you are eligible, you could be eligible to receive medication through the NHS. This is only possible when your doctor can refer you for an assessment through the Right to Choose pathway. You can self-refer if you don't want to wait for an GP to refer you, or in the event that you don't have one.
Alternatively, you can get help from your local mental health trust. You can determine which NHS mental health trusts in your area offer ADHD assessments by looking up their websites (except for those that don't offer the service) or contacting them.