How to Get an ADHD Assessment on the NHS
There is a significant variation in the quality of adult ADHD assessments and assessment reports. This is not acceptable and must be addressed.
You will be provided with pre-screening questions to fill out and your psychiatrist will examine prior to you meet. This will help to ensure that your consultation goes smoothly and without the need for long appointments.
Signs and symptoms
If you're struggling with difficulty concentrating and restlessness or you are having trouble to manage your emotions then you should consider consulting with a doctor to determine whether ADHD might be the cause. Around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD and it is a neurodevelopmental issue that affects the way the brain operates. It is essential to keep in mind that other conditions may be causing problems for you. These conditions must 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 inquire about how long you've experienced the symptoms and how they impact your life. Then, assessed for adhd will determine if you meet the criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They will also solicit opinions from people who know you and look at the impact of your symptoms on your daily activities.
Psychiatrists have a lot of experience in diagnosing ADHD. They will likely be able to determine within a few minutes if you fit the criteria. If they are not sure they'll take a full psychiatric history and examine your other health issues. This will include looking at other conditions that could coexist with ADHD and those that can lead to an undiagnosed case of ADHD like depression or anxiety.
However, if you are trying to obtain an ADHD assessment through the NHS there are private providers who can provide assessments via a video call. These providers are listed on our page Getting an ADHD Assessment. We recommend you to check the wait times for each provider before choosing one. You can consult your GP about this, or you can call directly to find out the current waiting times for an assessment. If this is important to you, make sure that they provide this service. Some providers have agreements with local NHS trusts to offer this service, so it's worth checking with your GP to see what arrangements are available in your area.
Diagnosis
Request your GP to refer you to a specialist If you suspect that you be suffering from ADHD. However, it's important to note that GPs are unable to diagnose ADHD themselves - they can only provide information about your symptoms and request for a referral to a mental health specialist.
When you go for your assessment, you are likely to meet with a consultant psychiatrist. This specialist will interview you about your life and medical history, in addition to asking you questions about how ADHD symptoms impact your daily life. You might be asked to fill out questionnaires or rating scales.
The assessment process is in accordance with the guidelines laid out by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Your specialist will look at your present symptoms and how they affected you as an infant. They will also take into consideration comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. These criteria will be used to determine if you have ADHD.
One of the most difficult things for people who have ADHD is obtaining the diagnosis. This can be due to the stigma associated with the condition and the lack of understanding by health professionals. In addition, people who belong to certain groups, such as those who are a person of colour, assigned female at birth, or are not native English speakers, can be discriminated against when seeking help to treat their symptoms.
There is no test that can confirm ADHD. Many people are diagnosed with different condition, such as depression or anxiety, but the root cause is ADHD. This can cause issues in both personal and professional relationships, as well as day-to-day functioning.
The NHS offers the Right to Choose Service for adult ADHD Assessments. This means that if you're not satisfied with the wait times at your local NHS service, you can choose to go to a different provider under the Right to Choose scheme. We've compiled an inventory of the providers that offer ADHD assessments through this scheme. To find out the timeframes for waiting, get in touch with the providers.
Treatment
ADHD sufferers have a variety of treatment options. They can include medication, psychosocial support, or both. The most appropriate option for each individual will depend on their individual requirements and circumstances. While medication can ease symptoms and improve functioning, psychosocial assistance can help treat co-existing disorders like depression or anxiety.
A person with ADHD may also benefit from making sensible adjustments to their environment, such as changing seating arrangements or reducing distracting factors in the workplace or education environments. This is done under the supervision of a psychologist or psychiatrist.
The doctor will not just look for ADHD but also look for comorbid conditions of the mental health, which can often occur alongside or mimic ADHD in adults. This is accomplished by examining symptoms checklists and soliciting feedback from those who know the person, such as family members and close friends.
If the specialist believes that a person meets the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis they will go over the treatment options. The most popular treatments are stimulants, which increase concentration and reduce impulsivity. They are available as tablets or injections, and can have both long-term and short-term effects.
Other medications can be prescribed for adverse effects, such as sleep disturbances and appetite loss that can be a result of ADHD. Some people may also benefit from psychosocial treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, which can help manage underlying anxiety or depressive symptoms.
GPs are legally obliged to refer patients with concerns regarding ADHD to an assessment and treatment. However the NHS has an unfinished list of ADHD assessments that could take eight years to eliminate according to an investigation by the BBC by submitting FOI requests. This is an extremely long time to wait for an essential service. Many people prefer to take the private assessment route because they can self-refer and have direct access to specialists.
Support
Visit your GP to receive an ADHD evaluation on the NHS. They'll be attentive to your concerns and ask you about the reasons you think you have ADHD. You may be asked to complete a screening test to determine if you're qualified for an appointment. After your GP agrees to refer you, you'll be added to the NHS waiting lists.
In England the average wait time for an adult ADHD assessment is two years. The demand for this service is the reason many areas are having difficulty keeping up.
If you're worried about how long you'll need to wait, it could be helpful to write an email to your GP to explain why you require an assessment. This will allow them understand the importance of the assessment and ensure that your request is acted upon. You can download an example letter from ADHD UK here.
If you've been referred to a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist will invite you for an assessment. During the assessment they'll look at your symptoms and review your mental health history to rule out any other medical conditions that could be causing your ADHD-related symptoms. They'll also talk about your lifestyle, and how ADHD impacts your daily life. The test will typically last 45-90 minutes, and can be conducted in person or through a video call.
If your GP suggests you to undergo an NHS ADHD assessment You may be eligible to receive medication through the NHS. This is only possible if your GP can refer you to an assessment using the Right to Choose pathway. Self-referral is an option if you don't want to wait for a GP to refer you, or if you don’t have one.
You can also seek support from your local mental trust. You can determine which NHS mental health trusts in your region offer ADHD assessments by looking up their websites (except for those that don't run the service) or by contacting them.