How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK GPs can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If you're waiting for a long time, request your GP to refer you to Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their healthcare provider. A psychiatrist will examine you through a structured interview and focus on your different areas of life that your symptoms have an impact on. They will request evidence, including childhood histories - school reports are sometimes requested. Find a psychiatrist They can prescribe medication for ADHD. They can also provide therapy for talking. If you are covered by health insurance the cost of a psychiatrist's visit will be covered. If you're not sure if the psychiatrist you are seeking is within your network, call your insurance company to find out. You can also request your GP for the referral to a psychiatrist specialist or look up local services online. If you don't have insurance, you may choose to go through a private service. Be sure that the Psychiatrist you choose is certified and has experience working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what a person with ADHD appears like. This can be problematic when trying to obtain an accurate diagnosis. In addition, a lot of medical professionals are not trained in adult ADHD and don't have much practical experience in dealing with it. You will need to do some research to locate an adult ADHD expert who can accurately identify your symptoms. It is crucial to establish an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you have found one. This is particularly important when you plan to start taking medication for your ADHD. If you are uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, you should consider seeking out a different one. While it's important to feel comfortable with a physician however, you shouldn't be forced to settle for less than what you deserve. Your doctor can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a medical assessment. This usually involves a survey and an interview with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in different social settings. The psychologist will go over your results to determine if your situation meets the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England You can select which location to receive your NHS assessments. You can choose from a list of NHS providers provided by the NHS. http://nutris.net/members/starray1/activity/1749212/ of these providers are able to provide online assessments for adults which can cut waiting times by a considerable amount. Ask your GP If you have an GP who is well-aware of ADHD they may be able to recommend you for an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this would involve an interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not a nurse) which will comprise questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history and your family mental health background. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be carried out along with the clinical interview. This will give you a better picture of your strengths, weaknesses and any comorbidities that could be affecting your ADHD. Your GP can help you by writing a letter stating that he would like to refer you to an assessment under Right to Choose. You can print out the template and present it to your GP. If they are unable to sign this form of consent for any reason it might be worth changing your GP particularly in the event that you plan to go on to apply for a Shared Care Agreement for medication later on. If your GP does agree to make the referral, then there will be a brief wait before you get to meet with the specialist. Making preparations for the interview is essential because it will be focused on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact your life today. You'll be asked to provide examples and be prepared to talk about how you've been functioning in various areas of your life. After a formal diagnosis your doctor will give you treatment options. These treatments could include talking therapy, behavioural interventions, and prescription medications. You will receive guidance on how to manage ADHD and the report will contain recommendations for continuing 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. Unfortunately, there are a lot of professionals in the UK, from GPs to nurses and psychologists, who have little knowledge about ADHD. This can make getting a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults aren't treated, and that children grow out of it. It can be difficult to find a professional who can listen and understand your situation. Right to pick If you reside in England and your GP agrees that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by a third party, you are entitled to choose which provider. This is referred to as the 'Right of Choice'. The only requirement for the provider to be able provide the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). https://postheaven.net/colorroof5/10-locations-where-you-can-find-adhd-adult-diagnosis is recommended to also know the waiting time of the provider before you contact them. You can learn more by contacting the provider directly or asking your GP. It is important to remember that general practitioners and are not experts in diagnosing mental health problems which includes adult ADHD. You may need convince your GP to recommend you to a specialist in order to have an ADHD assessment. If you are unable do this then the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can print and send to your GP. It includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidance which state that a doctor cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and only a specialist can make this diagnosis. Ask your GP what their current waiting times are for an ADHD evaluation. If the waiting time is too long, you can use your Right to Choice and choose another provider. You will be asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire and participate in an interview when you go to have your ADHD evaluated. The interview will usually be conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will focus on your personal history of ADHD and how it impacted your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. It is recommended to prepare for this interview and bring a family member to help you. It is also advisable to seek advice from your GP to look into the options for medication for you. They may not want to prescribe stimulants but they should be reminded that there are non-stimulant drugs that can help manage ADHD symptoms. These include the methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and atomoxetine (Strateva). You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD. Private Assessment If you're not satisfied waiting for the NHS to refer you or you are concerned that your GP may have preconceived ideas about what ADHD appears to be (this is a rising problem especially for women, people of color, and those who are assigned female at birth) If you are concerned about this, then self-refer to a private evaluation. The main provider of the assessments is Psychiatry-UK, they have a helpful guide to making this request on their website which includes templates for forms you can give to your GP. On their website, they provide a list of the providers. The majority of them provide both in-person and online diagnosis. A private assessment is likely to be slightly longer than an ordinary psychotherapy visit. It will also include an organized interview. The session will cover different aspects of your life and how your symptoms are affecting your present functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in a variety of situations and settings. It is a good idea to have a family member or friend member provide feedback. The psychiatrist will then go over their findings and provide you with an assessment. They will inform you if you believe that you are in line with the ADHD criteria or if another condition best explains your symptoms (traits). If they do not believe you meet the criteria, they will let you know the reasons why and you can request them to refer you back. After receiving a diagnosis, you are able to decide whether you want to pursue the path of medication or not. You will need a discussion with your GP. You might be able get a shared-care agreement for medications via your GP. This could save you money over the course of time. Do not depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis on the internet or self-diagnosis tool as they can be a false diagnosis. It is recommended to get a qualified and unbiased assessment in order to get the best results. Based on your situation and whether or not you're willing to take medication, there could be other options that can ease your symptoms. For example, if you are an undergraduate, you could receive an assessment from your university. They can give you advice on appropriate adjustments and Disabled Students' Allowance.