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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK GPs can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If the wait time is extremely long, you should consider asking your GP to refer you to the law that grants patients rights to choose their providers and treatment providers – referred to as Right to Choose. A psychiatrist will assess you using a structured clinical interview, and will focus on the different areas of life that your symptoms are affecting on. They might request your childhood history and school reports. Find a Psychiatrist Psychologists specialize in mental health, and they may prescribe medication to treat ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you have insurance the visits of your psychiatrist should be covered. Contact your insurance company if 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 do not have insurance, you can choose to go through an individual service. Make sure the Psychiatrist is certified and has experience working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what someone with ADHD appears like. This can be problematic when trying to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Many medical professionals do not have the required expertise or training to recognize adult ADHD. You will need to do some research to find an adult ADHD specialist who can determine the symptoms. It is important to develop an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you've discovered one. This is particularly crucial when you plan to begin taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you're not comfortable with your psychiatrist, consider looking for a different one. It is important to be comfortable with your physician, but you shouldn't settle for anything less. Your GP may recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. The process usually involves a questionnaire and an exchange between you and the psychologist about your ADHD symptoms in different social settings. The psychologist will go over your results to determine if you fit the criteria for adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose which location to receive your NHS assessments. You can choose from the list of NHS providers provided by the NHS. Some of these providers offer adult assessments online which can cut wait times significantly. Ask your doctor If you have an GP who has a thorough understanding of ADHD, they may be willing to refer you to the NHS to get an assessment. In the UK, this will involve an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not a nurse), which will include questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as medical history and family mental health background. Neuropsychological tests could be administered in addition to the clinical interview. This is to help provide an accurate picture of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as the possibility of comorbidities that could be affecting your ADHD symptoms. Your GP can assist you by writing a letter stating that he's referring you for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can print out the template and present it to your GP. If they refuse to sign this form of consent for any reason, it could be worth switching your GP, especially if you want to to apply for an Shared Care Agreement for medication later on. If your GP is willing to make the referral, then there will be a brief time before you are able to meet with the specialist. Preparing for the interview is essential, as it will likely concentrate on your ADHD symptoms and how they are affecting your life right now. You will be asked to provide examples and to talk about how you have been functioning in various aspects of your life. Following a formal diagnosis your doctor will offer you treatment options. These may include talk therapy, behavioural interventions or prescription drugs. You will receive advice on how to manage ADHD and an assessment that will include recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you are a student it is likely that your therapist will recommend a shared-care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medications for you. There are a lot of professionals in the UK from GPs to nurses and psychologists who are not knowledgeable about ADHD. This can make the process of obtaining a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive, that adults aren't treated, and that children aren't treated of it. It's not easy to find a professional who will listen and understand the issue. Right to Pick If you live in England and your GP will refer you for an ADHD assessment You have a legal right select the provider you want to refer you to. This is referred to as the 'Right to Choose'. adhd diagnostic for the provider to be able provide 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 for the provider before you contact them. You can find out more by contacting the provider directly or asking your GP. It is important to know that GPs only practice as general practitioners and therefore, are not experts in diagnosing mental illnesses such as adult ADHD. Therefore, you may have convince your GP that you should be referred by a specialist for an ADHD assessment. If you're unable to convince your GP that they should refer you to a specialist, you could print and download an email from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidelines which state that a doctor can't refuse to diagnose ADHD as a condition, and only a doctor can make this diagnosis. Ask your GP what their current waiting time is for an ADHD assessment. If they are too long you may exercise your Right to Choose and choose a different provider. You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire, and attend an interview when you go to get your ADHD evaluated. Interviews are typically conducted by psychiatrists or nurses who specialize in ADHD. The interview will focus on your personal history of ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also look at your current symptoms. You must prepare ahead for this interview and bring a friend or family member to support you. Ask your GP about medication options. They may not be able to prescribe stimulants, however they must be reminded that there are non-stimulant medications which can help manage ADHD symptoms. They include the methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and the atomoxetine (Strateva). In addition, you can also try cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy for adults with ADHD. Private Assessment You can request an assessment privately when you don't wish to wait for the NHS or if your GP has preconceived assumptions about what ADHD is (this is a problem that is growing particularly for women as well as people of color and those born female). Psychiatry-UK is the primary provider. They have a guide on their website which includes templates that you can give to a GP. They also have an extensive list of providers on their website and most of them offer online diagnosis and in person. A private assessment will usually be slightly longer than a typical psychiatric visit and include an in-depth interview. The interview will cover various aspects of your life and how your afflictions affect your current state of functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in various situations and settings. It is often helpful to have a friend or family member give you feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and give you a diagnosis. They will let you know if they believe that you meet the ADHD criteria or if a different condition best explains your symptoms (traits). If they do not believe you're in the right category, they will give reasons and you may ask for an additional referral. Once you have received an assessment, you can decide whether you want to go down the route of medication or not. You'll have to discuss this with your GP, you may be able to sign a shared-care agreement for your medication through your GP and this could save you money in the long run. You should not be relying on an ADHD diagnosis from the internet or any self-diagnosis software as they could be inaccurate. You should seek a professional and unbiased assessment in order to get the best results. Based on your specific circumstances and whether or not you're willing to take medication, there may be other resources available that can help with your symptoms. For example, if you are an undergraduate, you could get an assessment from your school. They can advise you on reasonable adjustments and Disability Students the'Allowance.