ADHD Diagnosis
ADHD is a complicated condition. It can affect anyone from childhood until adulthood.
With NHS service wait times at a record high, a few customers are opting to pay for private ADHD assessments and prescriptions. BBC Panorama's recent documentary raised concerns that some of these services weren't up to standards.
What is an ADHD diagnosis?
An ADHD diagnosis is a clinical evaluation by your psychiatrist based on your development history, behavioural tendencies and signs. To diagnose you, they'll ask you to fill out several questionnaires and conduct an interview to build up a clinical picture. Certain of these questionnaires are standardised and used by all psychiatrists, and others are tailored to each psychiatrist. Each psychiatrist and clinic will have their particular set of tests and questions they prefer to use.
A psychiatrist may also want to look at your family medical and psychiatric histories and your current symptoms. They'll usually inquire about how your symptoms affect you at work, home and in other locations. They will then assess whether your symptoms meet the guidelines for treating mental illness set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Your symptoms should be present at least twice (at school, at home or in social situations) and severely impair your ability to function. Your symptoms should have begun before the age of 12 years old, and they must be present over a long period of time. In addition, you must meet the criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive presentations of ADHD to get a diagnosis.
During the interview your psychiatrist will try to determine how your symptoms impact your daily life and if they've been present since childhood. They will also look into whether there are other conditions that might be causing your symptoms, like anxiety or sleep disorders or depression.
It is important to keep in mind that many people with ADHD don't have a good memory of their childhoods, particularly when it was a difficult one. This could affect their ability to recognize the presence of ADHD symptoms in their current lives and it is sometimes necessary for your psychiatrist to talk to a significant person like your spouse or partner to help gather additional information about your childhood.
Asking your primary care doctor for a referral or consulting the staff at a local university hospital or calling an office for mental health can help you locate a healthcare professional that specializes in ADHD evaluations. You can also contact an online support group for those with ADHD and request suggestions.
Why do I need an ADHD assessment?
If you think you might have ADHD, it's crucial to get a full diagnosis before beginning any treatment. It's not possible to diagnose ADHD by taking an online test or questionnaire. Only a healthcare professional can conduct an exhaustive assessment and come up with an accurate diagnosis. Undiagnosed ADHD can lead to serious issues at work, in relationships and with your wellbeing.
If your GP is aware that you you may have symptoms of ADHD, they will consider you a serious patient and request details of your past and present. They'll likely refer you to an NHS screening assessment, which will include an interview with a clinician and the completion of a variety of valid ADHD evaluation scales.
You may also be asked to fill out questionnaires with people who are familiar with you, like your close family members or friends. This will help your healthcare professional get a more holistic picture of your behaviour and see how it affects other people. A person with high IQ may have developed strategies to deal with the symptoms of ADHD. For example they may utilize technology to track their appointments, but spouses can tell if they are having trouble remembering things.
Private healthcare professionals aren't permitted to break the rules simply because they pay for their assessment. They must nevertheless adhere to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines for ADHD assessments. The process can be faster than waiting for an NHS appointment.
Having an ADHD assessment can help you to understand the root cause of your issues and how best to tackle them, as well as getting you on the right path with your medication. If you do decide to seek treatment, it's a good idea to have your GP accept a shared-care agreement with your private doctor (so you only pay the NHS prescription cost) and they can oversee your progress and offer advice on any changes. This will ensure that you're receiving the most appropriate and effective treatment for your needs. If you're interested in having an ADHD assessment, speak to one of our brain and mind experts at the Priory health center or hospital today.
What happens if I do not receive an appointment?
ADHD symptoms are very different from person to person, and the way they manifest can change with time. This is why a reliable diagnosis can be hard to get, especially for adults, despite numerous GPs taking adhd private assessments their concerns seriously. This is the reason why some people are more difficult to access NHS services in comparison to others. NHS waiting lists can be notoriously long, and sometimes it takes years before someone who wants to be evaluated can receive an assessment.
A person may not be able to get a job or their relationship could suffer. Adults who aren't diagnosed are at a greater risk of serious health issues like addiction and mood disorders. Adults who aren't diagnosed may suffer from extreme anxiety or sadness, and may eventually accept a life without the motivation and achievement they could have had if they were diagnosed and treated.
The good news is that if struggled to deal with your ADHD, it is possible to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment. If you decide to visit an individual specialist for an evaluation it is essential to choose carefully. Do your research and request recommendations from your friends and family prior to making any decisions. Verify their credentials and qualifications and inquire from previous clients and patients about their experience.
A specialist with the right experience can employ a variety of tools to determine ADHD. These include questionnaires, interviews and medical exams. The primary goal of the diagnosis is to rule out possible causes, such as mental disorders or learning disabilities, which are difficult to differentiate from ADHD.
In an ADHD evaluation, the specialist might interview you or your partner to discuss your issues and how they impact your life. The specialist may also use an DSM-5 checklist of symptoms as well as other psychometric tests to determine the severity of your condition. Stimulant medications improve ADHD symptoms in around 70 percent of children and adults and has been used to treat ADHD since 1937. It can be an effective treatment as it has the potential to have a very positive effect on mood and can stabilise the brain's function.
How can I get an assessment of ADHD?
To diagnose ADHD A healthcare professional must interview you or your child. They will ask questions about you or your child's behavior across different settings, such as at home and in school. They may also use rating scales to help identify symptoms, like inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity. They should be aware of whether your symptoms or those of your child have been present from childhood and if these symptoms have affected your daily functioning.
They will also want to determine if your child's symptoms are linked to other mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. Around 80percent of ADHD sufferers are also affected by co-occurring disorders. It's essential to eliminate them.
A private healthcare professional may also ask your permission to speak with family members, friends, teachers as well as religious leaders, scout leaders or coaches. They will inquire about how your your child's behavior affects their daily functioning and will also ask whether there is a history of abuse or trauma.
If they do not believe the diagnosis of ADHD to be appropriate then the healthcare expert will explain why. It could be due to the fact that they don't consider the symptoms to be severe enough, or that they are better explained by a different condition.
A referral from your family doctor is a great option to get an ADHD assessment. If you don't have a family doctor you can contact your insurance provider for recommendations or consult a local mental support group.
Bring any relevant records including psychological, medical, education, and employment to your appointment. The health care professional may require your complete social and family history and conduct a physical examination.
After the health professional has reviewed all the data they will be in a position to determine whether or not you or your child has ADHD. They will then suggest treatment options, including medication, if required. If you plan to use NHS prescription services to get your medication, consult with them first to make sure they will accept a private diagnosis of ADHD that has been accredited by the NHS.