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ADHD Assessments in the UK Finding an ADHD assessment can be difficult for many, particularly those who need to access the NHS. This is because the system is struggling to keep up with demand. GPs may inquire about symptoms and family history however, they are not qualified to diagnose or conduct an assessment. Only clinicians can do this. Symptoms If you think that your symptoms might be due to ADHD it is essential to seek out medical advice. In the UK it is possible to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist, or a specialist in mental health. It is a formal, structured appointment with a doctor who will take a full psychiatric history and identify other health conditions that might be present in addition to or in addition to ADHD. During your examination, you will be asked to provide examples of your symptoms and how they affect you. You will be asked to evaluate your symptoms on an appropriate scale. All of this information will be considered by the psychiatrist when deciding if you are eligible for an ADHD diagnosis as an adult. This will be based on the DSM V criteria of Attention Hyperactivity Disorder/Deficit. You will be asked for details of the symptoms that you experience, such as how long you've been suffering from them and if they started in childhood. You will be asked how these symptoms affect your life and relationships. A person with inattention ADHD may struggle to concentrate in class or during an online conference call and also miss important information. This can cause tension in relationships or even breaking down. Inattention ADHD symptoms can cause people to lose things frequently, such as keys phones, wallets or keys. This can cause a lot anxiety as people are searching for them and assigning their tasks to others. It is also usual for psychiatrists to talk with family members who know you well, and to review old school reports, if these are available. Sometimes, it is beneficial to speak with a teacher or other educational professional who has a connection to you from the past, particularly when you've had a difficult time at school. You will be asked to fill out questionnaires prior to your appointment. You will be asked questions about your life style, mental health, and any past behavioural issues. It is also normal for a consultant psychiatrist to observe you during your appointment, and this is extremely beneficial in aiding in the diagnosis of ADHD or other health issues. Diagnosis It can be difficult to recognize ADHD especially for adults. To receive the best treatment and support it is crucial to get the right diagnosis. A professional assessment is the first step towards obtaining the proper diagnosis. A good psychiatrist will listen to you and analyze the symptoms that are causing your problems. They will also look for any comorbidities that could be the cause of your symptoms. ADHD symptoms can cause stress and impact your quality of life. They can include problems in concentrating, making mistakes, and acting out of the blue. You may also struggle with time management and organisation. These issues can lead to difficulties at work, school or in your personal life. A series of conversations will be conducted with the specialist during the assessment. They will ask questions about your lifestyle, medical history and your family's history of mental health. They will also use rating scales and questionnaires to gather information about your ADHD. People who know you well like a partner or a close friend, can be sought to gain additional information. This can help ensure that the assessment is as complete as possible. If the specialist determines that you suffer from ADHD, they will use the diagnostic criteria set out in the DSM-5 to confirm the diagnosis. They will then talk about how your symptoms affect your daily life and look into any other comorbid conditions you might suffer from, like depression or anxiety. While the NHS provides an excellent service but delays in assessments can be very frustrating for people with ADHD. The BBC recently reported that a number of adults are waiting up to two years for an NHS diagnosis after being referred by their doctors. This is due to the huge rise in demand and limited capacity as well as some NHS trusts removing their waiting lists completely. Fortunately there are private ADHD assessments provide a more direct approach to diagnosis. While you need a GP referral to be able to access the NHS however, you can self-refer to private assessments. Many patients have noticed that it's easier to receive a private diagnosis since there aren't any waiting lists and they can avoid the stress of waiting for life-changing treatment. Treatment Once the specialist has concluded their examination, you will be informed of a potential diagnosis and the treatment options. It's usually a medical treatment plan, but psychotherapy can also be provided. iampsychiatry.uk can help you develop coping strategies and manage your symptoms to ensure they don't impact your life as much. Medication will usually be prescribed as a stimulant which enhances the way signals are sent between brain cells. It's often taken in tablets, with methylphenidate being the most common. It is available as an immediate-release or a modified-release tablet and taken two or three times per day. The specialist will explain the duration you should take the medication, however the majority of patients are prescribed it for as long as it's effective. During the assessment Your doctor may also ask for input from individuals who know you well including colleagues and acquaintances. This will enable them to collect information that might not have been discussed during your appointment. They will also determine if you have comorbid conditions that typically occur with ADHD such as depression or anxiety. If your doctor diagnoses you with ADHD and ADHD, they will draft a report that they will send to your GP. They may also recommend an appointment with an expert for ongoing care and support. BBC reports that the NHS has been struggling to meet the demand for ADHD assessment in recent years. This is largely due to the fact that a lot of people don't realise their symptoms are linked to ADHD, which can cause them to be referred for a different condition like depression or anxiety. A new taskforce was launched to cut down on waiting times and ensure patients receive the help they require. The taskforce will bring together a variety of sectors' expertise and provide joined-up solutions. But targeted investment is needed to help expand ADHD and provide the resources needed to meet demand. Support Presently, obtaining an assessment for ADHD within the NHS in the UK is a long wait. In fact, a system programme lead informed the BBC that the demands for adult ADHD assessments had increased by 700% over one year, and that some areas were experiencing wait times of more than two years. The NHS has been working on this issue and recently established a taskforce to improve access to specialist support for adult ADHD sufferers. This should help to reduce the time it takes to complete assessments, and it will help clinicians ensure that patients are referred to the most appropriate way. For instance, a person who has a family history of ADHD should be referred by their GP for a professional opinion. This is because, as well as being diagnosed with ADHD, these people often have related mental health problems. The NHS provides a variety of ADHD tests to those who are considering medical treatment or have been diagnosed with the condition. These tests are usually performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist or another professional with experience in diagnosing adult ADHD. The assessment can be between 45 and 90 mins and is typically conducted via phone or video conference. During the examination, the clinician will talk to you about your experience with ADHD symptoms as well as your previous experiences of them. The counselor will ask you about your mental health and any mental health issues you or your family members have faced. It is essential to talk about all of these issues during the assessment. This will help the doctor determine if you suffer from ADHD. After the evaluation is completed, the specialist will then determine a treatment plan. This will usually include medication and psychotherapy. It may also involve other support services like peer-support groups and workshops. People who want to speed up the process of getting an assessment can choose to access private healthcare providers instead of waiting for the NHS. This can be done through self-referral – or, in some cases, with the consent of your doctor. Private healthcare providers provide a more direct route to specialist mental health care, and these appointments are often much quicker than NHS ones.