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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're waiting for a long time you can consult your GP to refer you to Right to Choose law which gives patients the right to choose their healthcare provider. A psychiatrist will examine your condition through a structured clinical interview. They will concentrate on your various areas of your life that your symptoms are affecting on. They may ask for your childhood history and school reports. Find a psychiatrist They may prescribe medication for ADHD. Talk therapy is another option. If you have health insurance, the cost of your psychiatrist's visit will be covered. Contact your insurer if you're unsure if a psychiatrist is covered by your insurance. You may also ask your GP for a referral to a psychiatric specialist or look up local services online. If you don't have insurance, you may choose to go through an individual provider. However, make sure that the psychiatrist you choose is licensed and has experience with ADHD patients. Many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what a person with ADHD appears like. This makes it difficult to identify people with ADHD. In addition, a lot of medical professionals aren't trained in adult ADHD and don't have a lot of practical experience with it. You'll need to work hard to find an adult ADHD specialist who is able to properly evaluate your symptoms and diagnose you correctly. When you have found a psychiatrist, it is important to establish a relationship of trust with them. This is especially important when you plan to start taking medication to treat your ADHD. If you are uncomfortable with your psychiatrist, think about seeking out a different one. It is essential to feel comfortable with your doctor but you should not settle for less. Your doctor can recommend you to an adult ADHD specialist for a clinical assessment. This typically includes a questionnaire, as well as a discussion between you and the psychologist about your ADHD symptoms in various social situations. The psychologist will go over your results to determine if you fit the criteria for an adult ADHD diagnosis. In England you have the right to choose the place where you receive your NHS assessments. You can choose from a list of NHS providers that are provided by the NHS. Some of these providers can provide online assessments for adults, which can significantly reduce waiting times. Ask your doctor If you have a GP who is knowledgeable of ADHD they may be able to refer you to an NHS diagnosis. In the UK this would involve an interview with a psychiatrist or psychologist (not nurse) which will comprise questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms as well as your medical history and your family mental health background. It is also likely that neuropsychological tests will be performed in conjunction with the clinical interview. This is to help provide an accurate picture of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as any comorbidities, which could influence your ADHD symptoms. adhd diagnoses can also assist by writing a letter to let them know that you would like to be referred for an assessment under Right to Choose. You can get an example from ADHD UK to print off and give to your GP. If they don't want to do this for any reason, it could be worthwhile to change your GP in particular if you want to to apply for a Shared Care Agreement for medication later on. If your GP accepts to refer you, then you'll have to wait a few days prior to meeting with the specialist. The preparation for the interview is essential since it will focus on your ADHD symptoms and how they impact your life today. You will be asked for examples and to discuss how you've been performing in different areas of your life. After you've been diagnosed your specialist will advise on treatment options. These may include talk therapies and behavioural interventions and prescription drugs. You will be coached on how to manage your ADHD and will be provided with an evaluation with recommendations for ongoing treatment. If you are a university student Your doctor may suggest a shared-care arrangement with your GP to prescribe medication for you. There are a lot of professionals in the UK from GPs to psychologists and nurses, who have little knowledge about ADHD. This makes it difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis or get treatment. You might be told you don't need treatment because you are not hyperactive. Or that adults don’t receive treatment. Children are said to grow out of ADHD. It's not easy to find a professional who is willing to listen and comprehend the condition. Right to pick If you reside in England and your GP accepts that you should be referred to an ADHD assessment by an outside party, you have a right to choose which provider. This is called 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 to learn about the waiting times for the service of your choice before you contact them. You can do this by calling them directly or asking your GP for more details. It is important to note that general practitioners and so are not experts in diagnosing mental health problems, including adult ADHD. You may need convince your GP to refer you to a specialist to receive an ADHD assessment. If you're 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 the 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 they are too high you may exercise your Right of Choice and choose a different provider. You will be asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire and participate in an interview when you visit have your ADHD assessed. Interviews are typically conducted by a specialist nurse or psychiatrist. The interview will focus on your history with ADHD and how it has affected your life. It will also look at your current symptoms. You must prepare for the interview ahead of time and have a family member present for support. Ask your GP about medication options. They may not want to prescribe stimulants but they should be reminded that there are non-stimulant medications which can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. These include methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and Atomoxetine. You might also consider cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy to treat adults with ADHD. Private Assessment If you're not satisfied waiting for the NHS to refer you or you are worried that your GP might have preconceived notions about what ADHD appears to be (this is a growing problem especially for women, people of colour and those assigned to be female at birth) You can self-refer for a private assessment. The main provider of the assessments is Psychiatry-UK and they have a great 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 on their site and many of them provide online diagnosis as well as in-person. A private assessment will usually be slightly longer than a regular appointment with a psychiatrist and will include an in-depth interview. The interview will cover various 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 often helpful to have a family member or friend member provide feedback. The psychiatrist will review their findings and issue an assessment. They will let you know if they believe you meet the ADHD criteria or if another condition is more likely to explain your symptoms (traits). If they don't believe you meet the criteria, they will let you know the reason and you can ask for a referral. After receiving a diagnosis, it is up to you if you decide to take medication or not. You will need to discuss this with your GP or doctor. You may be able to get a shared-care agreement for your medication through your GP and this could save you money in the long term. Do not depend on getting an ADHD diagnosis from the internet or self-diagnosis software as they could be misleading. It is important that you obtain a professional, impartial assessment to ensure that you get the most effective results. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and whether you are willing to take medication, other treatment options could be available. For example, if you are a student, you can obtain an assessment from your school. They can provide you with advice on reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Student's Allowance.