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How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK Your GP can refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment. If you're waiting for for a long time and are not getting an assessment, consult your GP to use Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their preferred provider. A psychiatrist will conduct a structured interview to evaluate your symptoms and impact on different areas of your life. They might ask for your childhood records and school reports. Find a psychiatrist Psychiatrists specialize in mental health and can prescribe medications to treat ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If diagnosis of adhd are insured, your psychiatrist's visits should be covered. Contact your insurance provider if you're not sure if a psychiatrist is included in your network. You could also request your GP to recommend you to a psychiatrist expert or search the internet for local services. If you don't have insurance, then you can go through an individual provider. Be sure that the Psychiatrist you choose is certified and has experience working with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived notions about what a person with ADHD looks like. This can be a problem when trying to establish an assessment. In addition, many medical professionals aren't trained in adult ADHD and do not have much hands-on experience with it. You'll have to do some research to find an adult ADHD expert who is able to accurately diagnose your symptoms. It is crucial to establish a relationship of trust with your psychiatrist after you have discovered one. This is important, especially if you plan to begin taking medication for ADHD. If you're uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, think about searching for an alternative. It is essential to be able to trust your doctor, but you should not settle for anything less. Your doctor can refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. This usually includes a questionnaire as well as a discussion with the psychologist on how your ADHD symptoms impact your life in various social settings. The psychologist will review your results to determine if you meet the criteria for adult ADHD diagnosis. In England, you can choose which location to get your NHS assessments. The NHS provides a list of providers, and you are able to make use of your Right to Choose to choose the one that is most suitable for you. Some of these providers are able to offer adult assessments online which can cut the time it takes to wait by a significant amount. Ask your GP If you have an GP who has good understanding of ADHD they may be able to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK it will require an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not a nurse) that will comprise questionnaires about ADHD symptoms, medical history, and the mental health history of your family. Neuropsychological tests can be administered in conjunction with the clinical interview. This is to help provide an accurate picture of your strengths and weaknesses, which includes any comorbidities, which could influence your ADHD symptoms. Your GP can help you by writing a note informing you that he wants to refer you for an assessment under Right to Choose. Print out an example and present it to your GP. If they refuse for any reason, it may be worth switching your GP. This is especially relevant if you intend to apply for an Shared Care Agreement in the future. If your GP will agree to the referral, there will be a brief wait before you can meet with the specialist. It is essential to be prepared for this, since the interview will focus on how your ADHD symptoms affect your life today. You will be asked to provide examples and be prepared for a discussion about how you've been performing in different areas of your life. After a formal diagnosis the doctor will offer you treatment options. These may include talk therapies and behavioral interventions, as well as prescription drugs. You will receive advice on how to manage ADHD and a report that includes suggestions for treatment that is ongoing. If you are a student at a university, your specialist may recommend a shared-care arrangement with your GP in order to prescribe medications for you. There are a lot of professionals in the UK who do not have much knowledge about ADHD. This includes doctors, nurses, and psychologists. This makes getting a diagnosis and accessing treatment difficult. You may be told you don't have ADHD because you're not hyperactive. Or that adults don't receive treatment and that children get rid of it. It can take persistence to find a specialist who will listen and understand the issue. Right to pick If you reside in England and your GP is in agreement that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by a third party, then you have the right to choose the service. This is referred to as the 'Right to Choice'. The only requirement is that the selected provider is covered by an NHS Standard Contract with your CCG or NHS England for the required service. It is recommended to find out the waiting times for the provider before you contact them. You can find out more by contacting the provider directly or contacting your GP. It is important to note that GPs are only general practitioners and so are not experts in diagnosing mental health problems such as adult ADHD. You may need to convince your GP to recommend you to a specialist in order to receive 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 cannot refuse to diagnose ADHD and that only an expert can make this diagnosis. It is also advisable to ask your GP about the waiting times they are currently awaiting for an ADHD assessment. If they aren't enough, you can exercise your Right to Choose and select a different doctor. When you go for your ADHD assessment you will be required to complete a survey and attend an interview. The interview is typically conducted by a psychiatrist or specialist nurse. The interview will center on your personal history of ADHD and how it impacted your life. The interview will also focus on your current symptoms. You must prepare ahead for the interview and bring a friend or family member to help you. Ask your GP about options for medications. They might not wish to prescribe stimulants, however they must be reminded that there are non-stimulant medications which can be used to manage ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and atomoxetine. You may also consider cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD. Private Assessment You can refer yourself to an individual assessment if you don't want to wait for the NHS or if your GP has preconceived beliefs about what ADHD is (this is an issue that is becoming more prevalent, especially for women, people of color and women born to females). The primary provider of these assessments is Psychiatry-UK, they offer a useful guide for making this request on their website which includes templates for forms you can hand to your GP. They also have an inventory of providers available on their website and the majority of them offer online diagnosis as well as in person. A private assessment will usually be a little longer than a typical psychotherapy visit. It will also include an organized interview. This will cover different aspects of your life and how your symptoms impact your present functioning. They will also review your symptoms in various settings and situations. It is usually helpful to have a family or friend member provide feedback. The psychiatrist will review their findings and give you an assessment. They will inform them if they believe you meet the criteria for ADHD or if they believe that a different condition better explains your traits (symptoms). If they don't believe you meet the criteria they will tell you why and ask for another referral. Once you have received a diagnosis, you are able to then decide if you wish to pursue the path of medication or not. You will need to discuss this with your GP, you may be able to obtain a shared care agreement for medications through your GP and this could save you money in the end. You should not rely solely on the internet to get an ADHD diagnosis or any other self-diagnosis tools as they can be misleading. It is important that you receive a professional, objective evaluation to ensure you get the most effective results. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and if you are willing to take medications, other assistance might be available. For example, if you are a student, you can receive an assessment from your university. They can offer suggestions on how to make reasonable adjustments, and Disabled Student's Allowance.