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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your GP. If you're waiting for a long time you can ask your GP to refer you to the Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their provider. A psychiatrist will examine your condition through a structured clinical interview. They will concentrate on your different areas of life that your symptoms have an impact on. They might request your childhood records and school reports. Find a psychiatrist They may prescribe medication for ADHD. They can also provide therapy for talking. If diagnose adhd have insurance, your psychiatrist's visits should be covered. If you're unsure if you have a psychiatrist in your network, you can contact your insurance company to determine the status. You can also ask your GP for a referral to a psychiatric specialist or search for local services online. If you do not have insurance, you may choose to go through an individual service. Be sure to ensure that the Psychiatrist you select is licensed and has worked working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what a person suffering from ADHD looks like. This can make it difficult to recognize people with ADHD. A lot of 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 determine your symptoms and diagnose you correctly. It is essential to build an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you've identified one. This is particularly important when you plan to begin taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you're uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, think about searching for another one. While it is important to feel comfortable with a physician but you shouldn't be forced to settle for less than you deserve. Your GP can refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a medical assessment. The typical assessment involves a survey and an exchange with the psychologist about how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in various social settings. The psychologist will then look at your results and determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England you can choose which location to get your NHS assessments. You can select from a list of NHS providers offered by the NHS. Some of these providers can provide online assessments for adults, which can dramatically reduce wait times. Ask your GP If you have a GP with a good understanding of ADHD, they may be able to refer you to the NHS to receive a diagnosis. In the UK, this will involve an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not a nurse), which will include questionnaires about ADHD symptoms as well as medical history and family mental health background. Neuropsychological tests can also be conducted in conjunction with the interview. This will help give more clarity about your strengths and weaknesses, which includes comorbid conditions, that might influence your ADHD symptoms. Your GP can help you by writing a note informing you that he's referring you to an assessment under Right to Choose. You can download a template from ADHD UK to print off and present to your GP. If they refuse for any reason, it could be worth re-evaluating your GP. This is especially true if you plan to apply for a Shared Care Agreement in the future. If your GP does agree to make the referral then there will be a brief time before you are able to meet with the specialist. It is essential to be prepared for this, since the interview will concentrate on how your ADHD symptoms are impacting your life right now. You'll be asked to provide examples and be prepared for discussion about how you've been functioning in various areas of your life. After you've been diagnosed, your doctor will provide advice on treatment options. These may include talk therapy, behavioural interventions, and prescription medications. You will be provided with advice on how to manage ADHD and a report that includes recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you are a student then it is likely that your doctor will suggest a shared care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medication for you. Unfortunately there are a number of professionals in the UK including GPs, nurses and psychologists who are not knowledgeable about ADHD. This can make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis or get treatment. You may be told you don't need treatment because you are not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t get treated. Children are said to be able to overcome ADHD. It can take persistence to find a specialist who will listen and understand the symptoms. Right to Pick If you reside in England, and your GP is in agreement that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by an outside party, you are entitled to choose which provider. This is known as the “Right to Choose”. The only requirement is that the chosen provider has an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is also recommended that you find out about waiting times for the service of your choice before you contact them. You can do this by contacting directly or asking your GP for more details. It is important to know that GPs are general practitioners and therefore, are not experts in diagnosing mental disorders like adult ADHD. You may need to convince your GP to recommend you to a specialist to receive an ADHD assessment. If you are unable to convince your GP that they should refer you to a specialist, you could print and download an email from the charity ADHD UK to give to your GP. The letter 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 their current waiting times are for an ADHD assessment. If the waiting time is too long, you could utilize your Right to Choose and choose a different provider. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire, and attend an interview when you go to get your ADHD evaluated. The interview is typically conducted by a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse. The interview will concentrate on your experience with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also examine your current symptoms. You should prepare for this interview in advance and have a family member present for support. Ask your GP about options for medications. They might not wish to prescribe stimulants, but they should be reminded there are non-stimulant medications which can be used to manage ADHD symptoms. These can include the drugs methylphenidate (Ritalin), dexamphetamine, and Atomoxetine (Strateva). You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD. Private Assessment If you're not satisfied waiting for the NHS to refer you, or you are concerned that your GP might have preconceived notions about what ADHD is like (this is a rising problem particularly for women, people of colour and those assigned female at birth), then you can self-refer for a private assessment. The main provider of these assessments is Psychiatry-UK, they have a great guide for making this request on their website, which includes a template form that you can provide to your GP. They also have an inventory of providers on their website and the majority of them offer online diagnosis as well as in person. A private appointment is typically just a little longer than a regular appointment with a psychiatrist and will include a structured interview with a psychiatrist. This will include a variety of aspects of your life and how your afflictions affect your current functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in various environments and situations. It is usually helpful to have a family member or friend to give feedback. The psychiatrist will then consider their findings and notify you of the diagnosis. They will tell you if they believe that you meet the criteria for ADHD or if they believe another condition better explains your traits (symptoms). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will let you know why and you can ask for a referral. Once you have received a diagnosis, you can then decide if you want to pursue the route of medication or not. You will need to discuss this with your GP or doctor. You may be able to obtain a shared-care agreement for medication through your GP and this can save you money in the long term. Do not rely entirely on the internet to get an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tool since they could be inaccurate. You should get a professional and impartial assessment to receive the best possible outcome. Based on your situation and whether or not you are willing to take medication, there could be other support available that can help with your symptoms. For instance, if you are a student, you may receive an assessment from your school. They can give you advice on reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Student's Allowance.