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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK You can be referred for the NHS ADHD assessment by your doctor. If you're waiting for a long time, ask your GP to refer you to Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their preferred provider. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured interview to determine your symptoms and the impact on different areas of your life. They might ask for your childhood records and school reports. Find a Psychiatrist They can prescribe medication for ADHD. They can also provide therapy for talk. If you are covered by health insurance, the cost of your doctor's visit should be covered. If you're not sure if you have a psychiatrist in your network, you can contact your insurer to find out. You can also ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatric specialist or search online for local services. If you don't have insurance you can choose an individual provider. Make sure the Psychiatrist has been certified and has experience working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what someone with ADHD looks like. This makes it difficult to recognize the person with ADHD. In addition, many medical professionals are not educated in adult ADHD and don't have a lot of practical experience with it. You'll need to conduct some research to locate an adult ADHD expert who can accurately determine the symptoms. It is essential to build an established relationship of trust with your psychiatrist once you've discovered one. This is particularly crucial if you are planning 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 physician however, you should not settle for anything less. Your GP can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a thorough clinical assessment. The typical assessment involves a survey and an interview with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms affect your life in various social settings. The psychologist will analyze your results to determine if you meet the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England you can choose which location to receive your NHS assessments. The NHS offers a list providers, and you can make use of your right to Choose to select the provider that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers can provide assessments online to adults, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to wait. Ask your GP If you have a GP who is well-aware of ADHD they may be happy to recommend you for an NHS diagnosis. In the UK, this will involve a clinic interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist (not a nurse) and will involve questionnaires on ADHD symptoms as well as medical history and family history of mental health. It is also possible that neuropsychological tests will be performed in conjunction with the clinical interview. This will help to provide an accurate 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 for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can print out 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 an Shared Care Agreement in the future. If your GP accepts to refer you, then you will have to wait a few days prior to meeting with the specialist. Preparing for the interview is essential because it will focus on your ADHD symptoms and how they are affecting your life at present. You will be asked to provide examples and be prepared for a discussion about how you've performed in various areas of your life. After a diagnosis is made, your specialist will offer you treatment options. These could include talking therapy, behavioural interventions and prescription medications. You will be coached on how to manage your ADHD and given an evaluation with recommendations for continued care. If you are a student then it is likely that your doctor will recommend a shared care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medication for you. There are a lot of professionals in the UK who don't know much about ADHD. This includes GPs and nurses, as well as psychologists. This makes the process of obtaining a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You may be told you don't require treatment because you are not hyperactive. Or that adults don't receive treatment. Or that children will be able to overcome ADHD. It's not easy to find a specialist who can listen and comprehend the condition. Right to Choose If you live in England and your GP consents to refer you for an ADHD assessment, you have a legal right to choose which provider to be referred to. This is referred to as the 'Right to Choose'. The only requirement for a provider to be able to offer the service is that they have an NHS Standard Contract (with your CCG or NHS England). It is also recommended that you find out about waiting times for the provider you prefer before you contact them. You can find out more by contacting the provider directly or contacting your GP. It is important to know that GPs are general practitioners and therefore are not experts in diagnosing mental disorders such as adult ADHD. Therefore, you may have to convince your GP that you should be referred by a specialist for an ADHD assessment. If you are 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. This includes quotes from NICE 87 guidance which state that a GP is not able to refuse to diagnose ADHD and only an expert 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 utilize your Right to Choose and select a different provider. When you go for your ADHD assessment, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and be invited to an interview. Interviews are usually conducted by psychiatrists or a specialist nurse. The interview will be focused on your experience with ADHD and how it has affected your life. The interview will also examine your current symptoms. You must prepare ahead for this interview and bring a family member to assist you. It is also advisable to consult your GP to think about possible different options for your medication. They might be hesitant to prescribe stimulants, but they must remember that there are a variety of non-stimulant medications which can help control the symptoms of ADHD. These include the drugs methylphenidate (Ritalin), dexamphetamine, and atomoxetine (Strateva). Additionally, you could also try cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy for adults suffering from ADHD. Private Assessment You can have an assessment privately if you don't want to wait for the NHS or if your GP has preconceived notions about what ADHD is (this is an issue that is becoming more prevalent particularly among women or people of color, as well as women born to females). The main service provider for these assessments is Psychiatry-UK They have a helpful guide to doing this on their website, which includes templates for forms you can give to your GP. On their website, they also provide a list of the providers. Most of them offer both online and in-person diagnosis. A private evaluation will typically be slightly longer than a regular psychiatric visit and include an in-depth interview. The interview will cover various aspects of your life and how your symptoms affect your current functioning. They will also examine your symptoms in different settings and situations, it is usually helpful to have a family member or acquaintance to provide feedback. The psychiatrist will analyze their findings and inform you of your diagnosis. They will tell if you believe that you are in line with the ADHD criteria or if another condition is more likely to explain your symptoms (traits). If they do not believe you're in the right category, they will give reasons and you may request another referral. After receiving an diagnosis, it's up to you if you decide to take medication or not. You will have to discuss this with your GP and you might be able to get an agreement on shared care for medication through your GP and this could save you money in the long run. It is not recommended to rely solely on the internet to get an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tool as they can be misleading. You should seek a professional and impartial assessment to get the best results. Based on the severity of your symptoms and whether you are willing to take medication, other treatment options could be available. For instance, if you are a student, you may get an assessment from your school. They will be able to provide you with reasonable adjustments and Disability Students allowance.