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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You can be referred to the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If you are waiting an extended period you can ask your GP to use Right to Choose law which gives patients the option of choosing their preferred provider. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured meeting to assess your symptoms and the impact on different areas of your life. They might request your childhood records and school reports. Find a Psychiatrist Psychologists specialize in mental health, and can prescribe medications to treat ADHD. They may also provide therapy for talking. If you are covered by health insurance, the cost of your doctor's visit will be covered. If you're not sure if the psychiatrist you are seeking is within your network, you can contact your insurance company to find out. You can also ask your GP to recommend you to a psychiatrist expert or search the internet for local services. If you don't have insurance, you may choose to go through an individual provider. Be sure to ensure that the psychiatrist you choose is licensed and has experience dealing with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions of what someone with ADHD looks like. This can make it difficult to identify people with ADHD. Many medical professionals do not have the proper expertise or training to recognize adult ADHD. You'll need to work hard to locate an adult ADHD specialist who can evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you correctly. It is important to develop an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist after you have found one. This is especially important if you plan to begin taking medication for ADHD. If you are uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, you should consider searching for another one. While it's important to be comfortable with your doctor but you shouldn't be forced to settle for less than what you deserve. Your doctor could recommend you to a specialist in adult ADHD for a medical evaluation. This usually includes a questionnaire, as well as an interview with the psychologist about your ADHD symptoms in different social settings. The psychologist will then analyze your results and determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose which location to receive your NHS assessments. You can choose from a list of NHS providers provided by the NHS. Some of these providers are able to provide online assessments for adults, which can reduce the time it takes to wait by a significant amount. Ask your GP If you have a GP who has good understanding of ADHD they may be happy to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this will require an interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not nurses) that will include a questionnaire regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history and your family mental health background. Neuropsychological tests can be administered in addition to the interview. This will help give a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, which includes comorbid conditions, that might be influencing your ADHD symptoms. Your GP can also assist by writing a letter explaining that you wish to be referred for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can download the template from ADHD UK to print off and present to your GP. If they refuse to do this for any reason it might be worth switching your GP particularly when you intend to go on to apply for a Shared Care Agreement for medication later on. If your GP will agree to refer you to a specialist, then you'll have to wait a few days before meeting with the specialist. It is important to be prepared for this, since the medical interview will likely be focused on how your ADHD symptoms affect your life now. You will be asked to provide examples and to discuss how you've been performing in various aspects of your life. After you've been officially diagnosed, your doctor will provide advice on the best treatment options. This could include talk therapies and behavioural interventions and prescription medications. You will be provided with advice on how to manage ADHD and an assessment that will include recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you're a university student your doctor might suggest an arrangement for shared-care with your GP to prescribe medication for you. Unfortunately, there are a lot of professionals in the UK, from GPs to psychologists and nurses who aren't knowledgeable about ADHD. This makes the process of obtaining a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You might be told that you don't require treatment because you don't have hyperactivity. Or that adults don't receive treatment. Or that children don't be able to overcome ADHD. It can be a challenge to find a professional that can listen and understand your condition. Right to pick If you live in England and your GP agrees to refer you to an ADHD assessment You have a legal right to choose the provider you wish to be referred to. This is called the “Right to Choice”. The only requirement for the provider to be able to provide the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is also recommended that you learn about the waiting times for the provider of your choice prior to deciding to contact them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more information. It is important to note that general practitioners and so are not experts in diagnosing mental health issues which includes adult ADHD. Therefore, you may need convince your GP that you should be referred by a specialist for an ADHD assessment. If you're not able to convince your GP that you should be referred to a specialist, you can print and download a letter from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. This includes quotes from the NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP is not able to refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only an expert can make this diagnosis. Ask your GP what their current waiting time is for an ADHD evaluation. If the waiting times are too long, you could use your Right to Choice and choose another provider. When you go for your ADHD assessment, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and to attend an interview. Interviews are usually conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will concentrate on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also look at your current symptoms. adult adhd diagnoses must prepare ahead for this interview and bring a family member to assist you. You should also seek advice from your GP to look into medication options for you. They may be reluctant to prescribe stimulants, but they should remember that there are a range of non-stimulant medications which can help control the symptoms of ADHD. These can include the methylphenidate (Ritalin) as well as dexamphetamine and atomoxetine (Strateva). You might also consider cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Private Assessment If you're not content waiting for the NHS to refer you, or you are concerned that your GP might have preconceived notions about what ADHD looks like (this is a rising problem especially for women, people of color and those who were deemed as female at birth), then you can self-refer to a private assessment. Psychiatry-UK is the main provider. They have an online guide that includes templates you can give to a GP. They also have a list of providers on their site and most of them offer online diagnosis and in person. A private assessment is likely to be slightly longer than a regular psychiatric visit and include a structured interview. This will cover various aspects of your life and the way your symptoms affect your present functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in various situations and settings. It is usually helpful to have a family member or friend member give feedback. The psychiatrist will then review their findings and give you a diagnosis. They will inform you if they believe you meet the criteria for ADHD or if they believe that a different condition better explains your characteristics (symptoms). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will explain why and you can ask them to refer you back. After receiving a diagnosis, you are able to then decide if you want to pursue the path of medication or not. You will have to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to obtain a shared care agreement for medications through your GP and this can save you money in the long term. Do not depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis from the internet or self-diagnosis tool as they can be a false diagnosis. It is important that you get a professional, unbiased assessment to ensure you receive the best possible results. Depending on your circumstances and whether or not you are 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 will be able to advise you on reasonable adjustments and Disability Students allowance.