ADHD Assessment in the UK
A complete diagnostic evaluation is vital for a precise diagnosis. This includes screening questions sent out in advance and an interview with you and, ideally, someone you know well from your childhood, an analysis of historical school reports (if they are available) as well as a thorough consultation.
The NHS has guidelines that must be followed in order to conduct an ADHD assessment. However, many people choose to go through an individual healthcare provider to speed up the process and avoid lengthy waiting lists.
What is an ADHD assessment?
A healthcare professional will listen to your concerns and help understand them through an ADHD assessment. You will work with a qualified psychiatrist to discover what's going on and how it may be impacting your life. They will assess you by using various tools such as checklists of symptoms and scales for assessing your behaviour. They will also take into account any family history of mental health issues and your past experiences. The psychiatrist will then be able to determine which of the three primary subtypes you might have.
The specialist will also rule-out any other mental or medical conditions that may mimic the symptoms ADHD. This is very important because if another condition is mistaken for ADHD it could mean that you are treated incorrectly and the symptoms of ADHD might not improve. The specialist will also assess the severity of your symptoms and how they impact your daily functioning with the same criteria an NHS specialist would employ.
Make a list ahead of time of any questions or concerns you may have. This will help ensure that all of your needs are covered, and that nothing is left unanswered. You should also take notes of any issues you're having. You can remember these things better if you write them down. This will also make the process for getting an ADHD diagnosis more efficient.
Bring any relevant documents to your appointment. You can bring old work or school report cards or even performance assessments. You can also assist the expert by bringing any records you may have that demonstrate how ADHD has affected your life.
You may also be asked to complete questionnaires for pre-screening prior to your appointment. These can be completed by logging into your portal dashboard and will usually be available to fill out before you meet with your psychiatrist. This should be done as soon as you can to reduce your waiting time.
How do I get an ADHD assessment?
If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of ADHD, a diagnosis may be the first step to getting the help and assistance you need. In the UK the GP cannot diagnose ADHD but can refer for an assessment to a psychologist or psychiatrist who are the only healthcare professionals in the country qualified to make the diagnosis (and prescribe medication if needed).
An NHS-funded ADHD assessment will be with a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist and typically takes between 45 and 90 minutes. You will be asked questions regarding your general mental health as well as your family's mental health history and the symptoms you are experiencing. The specialist will also look at any other medical or psychological issues that could contribute to the symptoms you are experiencing.
In addition to assessing your current symptoms, your specialist will also inquire if you've suffered from similar problems in the past. Current guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that ADHD can only be diagnosed at the age of an adult if symptoms have been present from childhood.
If you've been experiencing these symptoms since adulthood, your specialist will ask whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also look into any other factors that can influence your symptoms, including anxiety and stress. They may also suggest that you enroll in a group-based ADHD education and support program or refer you to other treatments, such as cognitive therapy for behavior.
If you're having trouble getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you can use your Right to Choose if you live in England. You can decide to take a private assessment in the event that the NHS wait time is too long or you don't want to wait at all. Private assessments are more costly, but they give you direct treatment. Your specialist will write a comprehensive report for you to present to your GP and will go over any recommended medication or other treatment options with you. They will also send recommendations to your workplace or school upon request. This can be an additional cost dependent on the amount of time taken to prepare the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
A psychiatric evaluation is the first step in an ADHD assessment. Your doctor will ask questions about your health, lifestyle as well as your family and development. They will also provide you with standard questionnaires. They will also want to interview other people, like siblings, parents, or spouses, and may ask friends, teachers or coaches for their opinions too. These interviews are not intended to criticise you, but to help identify other factors that could be causing your symptoms, for example anxiety or depression.
During the interview, your doctor might look at any documents you bring with them, such as copies of your previous psychological tests or old school reports. The evaluator may also be able to spend time with someone who is familiar with your life, such as your spouse, sibling or parent. This is to gather information about your childhood experiences, as you may have forgotten some details or the behaviours might have changed as you grew older.
The psychiatrist will also look over any information you have provided in response to the standardised questionnaire prior to your appointment to ensure that they can gain an accurate understanding of your symptoms. They will also examine any other data from your past such as school records from the past or a medical or neurological exam. This is to make sure that you meet standardized criteria for ADHD. For children, this is at least six established ADHD behaviors in one of the two categories of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity over a period of six months. Adults must show at least five symptoms that have been established within the same timeframe.
After they have gathered all the relevant details, your psychiatrist will conduct a clinical interview with you. The psychiatrist will go over all the data gathered to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms. This process involves evaluating your symptoms by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
If your psychiatrist determines that you suffer from ADHD, he or she will submit a report to your GP. The doctor will then choose the most appropriate treatment plan, which may involve pharmacological (medication) or psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have the legal right to select your own healthcare provider, so you can visit your private doctor to get an ADHD assessment in the event that you don't want to wait for the NHS.
What happens following an ADHD assessment?
Getting a professional ADHD diagnosis can be life-changing. It can assist you in obtaining treatment and also reduce feelings of confusion and self-doubt about your symptoms.
If you suspect that your child or you are suffering from ADHD The first step is to discuss it with a GP. They can refer you directly to a psychiatrist or psychologist who is the only UK healthcare professional who is qualified to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients might wait for months for an appointment. Many prefer to seek out private treatment.
If you've been referred to an assessment, you or your child will be interviewed in person by your clinician. The interview will include topics such as development, health and family history, as well as lifestyle. The clinician may ask to speak with other people like teachers or daycare providers. This isn't a way to verify your answers, but rather to discover more about how your symptoms impact you or your child in different situations.
The doctor will use scales of rating to determine the frequency of specific symptoms such as trouble staying focused or restlessness. This will determine if you meet the standardized criteria for ADHD. They will also discuss whether you suffer from any other problems, such as anxiety or depression. If you have a family history of ADHD it is important to telling your physician about this too, as there are genetic influences that affect the likelihood of developing the condition.
Your clinician will prepare a comprehensive report that you can take to your GP following the psychiatric examination. The report will contain a detailed diagnostic and a recommended treatment.
If you've been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD, your GP might suggest you try medication. If the medication works it is important to inform your insurance company and the DVLA, because you will be required to renew your driving license. If you are parents of one of your children who has been diagnosed with ADHD Your therapist may suggest that you attend an adult group to learn how to manage the condition together. This can improve your relationship with your child and make you a more confident and understanding parent.