How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
Your GP can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If you are waiting for a long time and are not getting an assessment, consult your GP to refer you to the Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their preferred provider.
A psychiatrist will examine you using a structured clinical interview and focus on your different areas of life that your symptoms have an impact on. They might request your childhood records and school reports.
Find a psychiatrist
Psychiatrists specialize in mental health and they can prescribe medication to treat ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you have insurance, your psychiatrist's visits should be covered. Contact your insurance provider if you're uncertain if a psychiatrist's services are covered by your insurance. You can also request your GP to recommend you to a psychiatrist specialist or search online for local services. If you don't have insurance you may choose to go through a private service. But, ensure that the Psychiatrist you choose is licensed and has worked working with ADHD patients.
Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone who has ADHD looks like. This can be problematic when trying to establish a diagnosis. In addition, a lot of medical professionals aren't trained in adult ADHD and don't have much practical experience with it. You'll have to do some research to find an adult ADHD expert who is able to accurately diagnose your symptoms.
It is important to develop an enduring relationship with your psychiatrist once you have identified one. This is especially important if you are planning to begin taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you're uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, you should consider looking for an alternative. It is essential to feel comfortable with your physician, but you should not settle for anything less.
Your GP can refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. This typically includes a questionnaire as well as an interview with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in different social settings. The psychologist will then review your results and determine whether you meet the requirements for an adult ADHD diagnosis.
In England You can select which location to receive your NHS assessments. You can select from a list of NHS providers that are provided by the NHS. Some of these providers provide online assessments for adults which can cut the time it takes to wait by a significant amount.
Ask your doctor
If you have a GP who is knowledgeable of ADHD, they may be willing to refer you to the NHS to receive an assessment. In the UK this will involve an interview with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not nurse) which will comprise questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history and your family mental health history. Neuropsychological tests could also be conducted in addition to the interview. This will provide a better picture of your strengths, weaknesses and comorbid conditions that may be influencing your ADHD.
Your GP can help you by writing a note informing you that he's referring you for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can get a template from ADHD UK to print off and give to your GP. If they don't want to accept this request in any way, it could be worth switching your GP particularly in the event that you plan to to apply for a Shared Care Agreement for medication later on.
If your GP accepts to refer you to a specialist, then you'll need to wait a few weeks before meeting with the specialist. It is crucial to prepare yourself for this, as the clinical interview will likely focus on how your ADHD symptoms affect your life today. You will be asked to give examples and be prepared to talk about how you've been functioning in various areas of your life.
Following a formal diagnosis the doctor will give you treatment options. These may include talk therapies and behavioral interventions, and prescription medications. You will be coached on how to manage your ADHD and given an assessment with recommendations for continued care. If you're an undergraduate student your doctor might suggest a shared-care arrangement with your GP in order to prescribe medication for you.
There are a lot of professionals in the UK, from GPs to psychologists and nurses, who have little knowledge about ADHD. This makes it difficult to obtain an assessment or access treatment. You might be told you don't need treatment since you don't have hyperactivity. Also, adults don't get treated. Or that children will be able to overcome ADHD. It's not easy to find a professional who can listen and comprehend the condition.
Right to choose
If you live in England and your GP accepts that you should be referred for an ADHD assessment by a third party, you are entitled to choose which provider. This is called the "Right to Choose". The only requirement that 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 time of the service provider prior to calling them. You can find out more information by contacting the provider directly or asking your GP.
It is important to remember that GPs are general practitioners and are not experts in diagnosing mental health issues, including adult ADHD. So, you might have to convince your GP that you need to be referred to an expert for an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to convince your GP that you should be referred to a specialist, you can print and download a letter from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP is not able to refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only an expert can make this diagnosis.
It is also advisable to ask your GP about the 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.
You will be asked to complete a questionnaire, and attend an interview when you go to have your ADHD assessed. The interview will usually be conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will concentrate on your experience with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also look at your current symptoms. You must prepare for this interview ahead of time and have a family member present for support.
Ask your GP about options for medications. They may not want to prescribe stimulants, however they should be reminded there are non-stimulant medications which can help manage ADHD symptoms. These can include the methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and Atomoxetine (Strateva). In addition, you can also try cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD.
Private Assessment
If you are not happy waiting for the NHS to refer you, or you are worried that your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD is like (this is a growing issue especially for women, people of color and those who were deemed as female at birth), then you can self-refer to a private assessment. The main service provider for these is Psychiatry-UK, they offer a useful guide for doing this on their website which includes templates for forms you can hand to your GP. On their website, they also provide a list of providers. The majority of them provide both in-person and online diagnosis.
A private assessment usually takes just a little longer than a regular appointment for psychiatric treatment and will consist of an organized interview with a psychiatrist. The session will cover different aspects of your life, and how your symptoms affect your current performance. They will also review your symptoms in different settings and situations. It is usually helpful to have a family member or friend member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then consider their findings and provide you with the diagnosis.
They will inform them if they believe you meet the criteria for ADHD, or if they believe that a different condition is more appropriate to explain your behavior (symptoms). If they don't think you meet the criteria they will explain why and request an additional referral.
After receiving an diagnosis, it's up to you if you decide to take medication or not. You'll need to discuss the matter with your GP. You may be able get a shared-care agreement for medications via your GP. This can save you money over time.
You should not be relying on an ADHD diagnosis via the internet or self-diagnosis tool as they can be a false diagnosis. You should get a professional and unbiased assessment in order to get the best results. Depending on your circumstances and whether or not you are willing to use medication, there may be other resources available that can help with your symptoms. For instance, if you are a student, you can obtain an assessment from your school. They can offer suggestions on how to make reasonable adjustments as well as the Disabled Student's allowance.