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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You may be referred to the NHS ADHD assessment by your doctor. If the wait is very long, consider asking your GP to use the law that gives patients rights to choose their healthcare providers and treatment providers – referred to as Right to Choose. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured interview to evaluate your symptoms and impact on various aspects of your life. They might ask for your childhood records and school reports. Find a psychiatrist They can prescribe medication for ADHD. They may also provide talk therapy. If you are insured the visits of your psychiatrist should be covered. Contact your insurer if you're not sure if a psychiatrist is covered by your insurance. You can also request your GP for a referral to a psychiatric specialist or search for local services on the internet. If you don't have insurance, then you can go through a private provider. But, ensure that the Psychiatrist you select is licensed and has worked dealing with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what someone with ADHD is like. This can make it difficult to identify people with ADHD. Additionally, a lot of medical professionals are not trained in adult ADHD and don't have a lot of practical experience with it. You'll need to conduct some research to find an adult ADHD expert who is able to accurately determine the symptoms. It is important to develop an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you have discovered one. This is particularly crucial when you plan to begin taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you're uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, consider looking for a different one. It is essential to feel comfortable with your doctor, but you should not settle for less. Your GP may refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a thorough clinical assessment. This typically involves a survey and an interview with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms affect your life in various social situations. The psychologist will then review your results and determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose the location where you will get your NHS assessments. The NHS offers a list of providers, and you are able to use your right to Choose to select the provider that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers are able to offer adult assessments online which can cut waiting times by a considerable amount. Ask your GP If you have a GP who has a thorough understanding of ADHD they might be willing to refer you to the NHS to get a diagnosis. In the UK this would involve an interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not nurse) which will comprise questionnaires on ADHD symptoms, your medical history and your family mental health history. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be carried out in conjunction with the interview. This will help to provide a better picture of your strengths, weaknesses, and any comorbidities that could be affecting your ADHD. Your GP can also help by writing a letter stating that you wish to be referred for an assessment under Right to Choose. Print an example and present it to your GP. If they refuse for reasons of any kind, it might be worth changing your GP. This is particularly applicable if you are planning to apply for a Shared Care Agreement in the future. If your GP is willing to make the referral then there will be a brief wait before you get to meet with the specialist. The preparation for the interview is essential because it will concentrate on your ADHD symptoms and how they affect your life at present. You will be asked for examples and to talk about how you've been performing in different areas of your life. Following a formal diagnosis your doctor will provide you with treatment options. These could include talking therapy, behavioural interventions and prescription medications. You will receive guidance on how to manage ADHD and an assessment that will include recommendations for continuing treatment. If you are a university student Your doctor may suggest a shared-care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medication for you. There are many professionals in the UK who don't have much knowledge about ADHD. This includes doctors, nurses, and psychologists. This makes finding a diagnosis and gaining access to treatment difficult. You might be told that you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive, that adults don't get treated and that children aren't treated of it. It may take a lot of persistence to find a specialist who is willing to listen and comprehend the symptoms. Right to choose If you reside in England, and your GP is in agreement that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by a third party, you have a right to choose the service. This is referred to as the 'Right of Choice'. The only requirement that a provider to be able provide the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is also recommended to learn about the waiting times for the service of your choice before you contact them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more details. You should be aware that GPs are general practitioners and are therefore not experts in diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. You may have to convince your GP to recommend you to a specialist to get an ADHD assessment. If you're unable to do this and you are unable to convince your doctor, the charity ADHD UK has a letter that you can print and send 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 the current waiting time for an appointment is for an ADHD evaluation. If they are too long, you can exercise your Right to Choice and choose a different GP. When you go for your ADHD assessment you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and attend an interview. The interview will typically be conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will center on your past experience with ADHD and how it affected your life. diagnosing adhd will also examine your current symptoms. It is recommended to prepare for this interview and bring a family member to assist you. You should also consult your GP to consider different options for your medication. They might be hesitant to prescribe stimulants but they must remember that there are a variety of non-stimulant medicines that can help manage the symptoms of ADHD. They include the drugs methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and the atomoxetine (Strateva). You might also consider cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD. Private Assessment You can request an individual assessment 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 among women or people of color, as well as women born to females). The main service provider for the assessments is Psychiatry-UK, they offer a useful guide for making this request on their website, which includes template forms that you can give to your GP. On their website, they also provide a list of providers. The majority of them offer both in-person and online diagnosis. A private assessment usually takes slightly longer than a normal appointment with a psychiatrist and will include an organized interview with the psychiatrist. The interview will cover a variety of aspects of your life and the way your symptoms affect your current performance. They will also review your symptoms in different contexts and situations. It is often helpful to have a family or friend member give feedback. The psychiatrist will analyze their findings and provide you with the diagnosis. They will let you know if they believe you meet the ADHD criteria or if another condition is more likely to explain your symptoms (traits). If they do not think you meet the criteria, they will let you know the reason and you can ask them to refer you again. After you have received a diagnosis, you are able to then decide if you wish to pursue the route of medication or not. You'll need to discuss the matter with your GP. You may be able to obtain an agreement on shared-care for medication via your GP. This could save you money over the course of time. It is not recommended to rely solely on the internet for an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tools as they could be erroneous. It is crucial to get a professional, unbiased assessment to ensure you receive the best possible outcomes. Based on the severity of your symptoms and whether or not you are willing to accept medications, other assistance may be available. For instance, if are a student, you can obtain an assessment from your university. They can provide you with guidance on adjustments that are reasonable, and Disabled Student's Allowance.