How to Get an ADHD Assessment on the NHS
There are a number of significant differences in the quality of adult ADHD assessment reports and assessments. This is unacceptable and must be addressed.
You will receive pre-screening questionnaires to fill out that your psychiatrist will go over prior to you meet. This will ensure that your consultation runs smoothly and without the need for long appointments.
Signs and symptoms
If you are having trouble staying focused, calming down or controlling your emotions, it is recommended to talk to a doctor about whether ADHD could be the problem. Around 2.6 million people in the UK have ADHD and it is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the way in which the brain performs. It is important to keep in mind that other conditions could be causing you problems. These need to be considered prior to when you are diagnosed with ADHD.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms when you go for an ADHD assessment. They will also ask you how long you've been experiencing the symptoms and how they impact your life. They will then determine if you fit the criteria outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They will also consider how your symptoms interfere with your daily life and also seek feedback from those who know you.
Psychiatrists have a lot of experience diagnosing ADHD. They'll be able to tell you within a few minutes if you fit the criteria. If they're not certain, they'll do a full mental health exam and review your other health issues. This includes looking at other illnesses that can be associated with ADHD and also the conditions that can cause the wrong diagnosis of ADHD such as depression and anxiety.
If you're having difficulty getting an ADHD assessment through the NHS, private providers can offer assessments via video calls. The details of these providers on our Getting an ADHD Assessment page, and we recommend to look over the waiting time before you decide on one. You can ask your GP about this, or contact them directly to inquire what their current wait is for an assessment. If this is essential to your needs, make sure they offer this service. Some providers have agreements with local NHS trusts to offer this service, so it's worth checking with your GP to find out what arrangements are available in your area.
Diagnosis
You can ask your GP for a referral If you suspect that you have ADHD. It's important to remember that GPs can't diagnose ADHD - they only relay symptoms and request a referral to an expert.
You can be evaluated by psychiatrist. The specialist will ask questions about your lifestyle, medical history and how ADHD symptoms affect your daily life. They might also require you to fill out questionnaires and rating scales.
The assessment process is guided by the guidelines laid out by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Your doctor will look at your current symptoms and how they affected you as in your early years. They will also consider comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety. These criteria will be used to determine if you have ADHD.
The process of diagnosing ADHD can be a challenge for many. This is due to the stigma surrounding the condition, as well as an absence of awareness among healthcare professionals. People from certain groups can be discriminated against if they seek help for their symptoms, like people of color, women born or non-native English speaking people.
It isn't easy to obtain an accurate diagnosis because there is no single test that can establish the presence of ADHD. When ADHD is the root cause, many people are misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety. This can result in significant issues with personal and professional relationships as well as everyday functioning.
The NHS offers a Right to Choose service for adult ADHD evaluations. If you are unhappy with the wait times at your local NHS services, you can choose to visit another provider via the Right to Choose scheme. We have compiled the list of providers that offer ADHD assessments under this scheme. To find out about waiting times, you should get in touch with the providers.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options that are available to people suffering from ADHD. These include medication, psychosocial support, or both. The best choice for each individual will depend on their individual requirements and circumstances. While medications can alleviate symptoms and help improve performance, psychosocial support can help treat co-existing disorders like depression or anxiety.
A person suffering from ADHD could also benefit from making reasonable adjustments to their environment, for example, changing seating arrangements or reducing distractions in workplace or educational settings. This can be done with the supervision of a psychologist or psychiatrist.
In addition to testing for ADHD, the doctor will also look at whether there are any comorbid mental health issues that often occur in conjunction with or are similar to ADHD in adults. This is done by looking through symptoms checklists and soliciting feedback from people who are familiar with the person like family members and friends.
If a specialist believes the person is in the right place for an ADHD diagnosis they will talk about possible treatment options. The most common treatments are stimulants, which improve concentration and reduce impulsiveness. here are the findings are available in pills or injections and may be used for both short- and long-term effects.
Other medications may be prescribed to control side effects, such as sleep problems and appetite loss, which are sometimes related to ADHD. Certain people may also benefit from psychosocial therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness, which can assist to manage depression or anxiety.
GPs are legally required to refer patients with concerns about ADHD to an assessment and treatment. However the NHS has an unfinished list of ADHD assessments that could take eight years to get rid of, according to an investigation by the BBC using FOI requests. This is an extended period of waiting for an essential service. Many people choose to take the private assessment route since they can self-refer and get direct access to specialists.
Support
The first step towards getting an ADHD assessment through the NHS is to see your GP. Your concerns should be treated with seriousness and they should inquire why you believe you may have ADHD. You might be asked to take a screening test to determine if you are eligible to be seen. Once your GP has agreed to refer you, they'll add you to the NHS waiting list.
The average time to receive an NHS adult ADHD assessment in England is two years. The high demand for this service is the reason many areas are having difficulty keeping up.
If you are worried about the amount of time you be waiting for an appointment You may want to write a note to your GP detailing what you require. This will allow them to comprehend the significance of the test and ensure that your request gets acted on. Here is a sample of an email from ADHD UK.
If you've been referred, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist will invite you to an assessment. In the course of the assessment, they'll review your symptoms and look into any mental health history that may be the cause of your ADHD symptoms. They'll also discuss your lifestyle and how ADHD impacts your daily life. The assessment will typically last 45-90 minutes and may be conducted in person or through a video calls.
If your GP recommends an NHS ADHD assessment and you are eligible, you could be eligible to receive medication through the NHS. This will only be possible in the event that your GP is able to recommend you for an assessment through the Right to Choose pathway. Self-referral is a possibility if do not want to wait for a GP to refer you or even if you don't have a GP.
You can also get help from your local mental health trust. You can determine which NHS mental health trusts in your area offer ADHD assessments by browsing their websites (except for those that don't provide the service) or by contacting them.