ADHD UK Assessment
If you suspect that you have ADHD It is crucial to discuss this with your GP. They can discuss your symptoms and enquire about any other mental health conditions you might be suffering from.
NHS patients in England are legally entitled to select their mental health provider. This includes access to ADHD assessment services.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a mental health disorder which affects the way signals are passed between brain cells. This can result in problems with learning, organisation and paying attention. It can also make it more difficult to manage issues like problems with self-control or making the right decisions. People suffering from ADHD frequently feel angry and irritable, and have difficulty completing routines and tasks that others are able to complete. They may also be struggling with emotional issues, like anxiety, depression, and low mood. depression.
Many people suffering from ADHD are misdiagnosed, or they receive the wrong treatment. NHS services are struggling to meet the rise in assessment requests and some areas have waiting times longer than two years. According to BBC Freedom of Information requests some of them have been refusing new referrals. The Freedom of Information requests reveal that certain doctors have stopped accepting new referrals altogether.
Doctors are required to consider the claims made by people who suspect they suffer from symptoms of ADHD seriously and refer them to an assessment. They must follow NICE guidelines, which require that an assessment be conducted by a specialist ADHD psychiatrist or nurse (or any other "appropriately-qualified healthcare professional" [NICE]).
People who are on the NHS waiting list can request a personal assessment. This can be done through the Right to Choose pathway, when a patient's doctor will agree to refer them for an ADHD assessment to their preferred provider. To do this, they must discuss the person's concerns with them and explain why they'd like an evaluation of their symptoms of ADHD by an expert psychiatrist or ADHD nurse.
Many private ADHD assessment companies offer titration of their medications through the NHS following the assessment. The largest of them is Psychiatry UK, who provide information on how to use their service through Right to Choose, including the downloadable letter you can give to your GP.
Common symptoms of ADHD
ADHD symptoms can impact the ability of an individual to focus and control their emotions. Symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. While many people struggle with these problems, those diagnosed with ADHD have issues that are significantly beyond what is expected of their age or developmental level. These issues can impact their ability to succeed at home and at work and can cause issues in relationships.
Inattention refers to the fact that a person struggles to stay focused and on task frequently getting distracted and losing their focus on what they are doing. They may also have difficulty making plans and following directions. Hyperactivity is a frequent symptom of ADHD and can manifest as excessive fidgeting, tapping or talking. The term "impulsivity" refers to the tendency to act without thinking about consequences, or to seek immediate satisfaction.
Certain people with ADHD might have trouble making and keeping friends. They might be frequently criticized by others for their forgetfulness and naughtiness. They can also suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. The challenges that people with ADHD face can increase throughout their lives, for example when they move out of the family home and into a job or school. New stressors, like relationships, financial pressures, and parental expectations can also affect them.
It is crucial to speak with your GP in the event that you suspect you might be suffering from ADHD. They can help you decide whether an NHS ADHD assessment would be helpful and suggest a treatment that meets your needs. This might be a Community Mental Health Service or a specialised Neurodevelopmental Service.
During the consultation process, your GP will conduct a thorough review of your past and current problems and ask you about your family and social life. They will also conduct an examination to rule out other conditions such as anxiety or depression. They will also look over any reports or assessments from the past and examine your medications.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warns of long waiting lists for assessments and ADHD services that are struggling to keep up with the demand. To understand the scale of the problem we made FOI requests to each NHS trust in England which runs ADHD services and found that, on average, people wait more than six months for an appointment.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults
Untreated ADHD symptoms can create problems for adults that are even worse than those of children. They may be struggling with relationship problems, career difficulties, and a general feeling of underachievement. They are often struggling to keep their job and adhering to corporate rules or meeting deadlines. They might also have difficulty managing their finances and end up in debt because of impulse purchases. They may have trouble staying well due to a poor diet or an inability to concentrate for long periods of time.
Adults with ADHD might be more difficult to diagnose and treat than children. This is primarily due to the fact that medical professionals have preconceived notions about how people with ADHD look. This is especially the case if they're a person of colour or gender-specifically assigned at birth or are not native English speaker. Additionally, people with ADHD can be more likely to suffer from mental health issues that mirror the symptoms of ADHD like anxiety or depression.
The most frequent symptom of adult ADHD is restlessness, which manifests as a lack of concentration and a tendency to stay still. Adults suffering from this disorder can also be anxious and stressed easily and feel overwhelmed by daily events. They may also have trouble controlling their emotions, and may suffer from depression, anxiety or low self-esteem.
In some cases, adults with ADHD may not be aware that they have an issue until they reach adulthood and experience higher levels of stress and pressure. The signs may not be apparent until they have left school or the home of their parents. They could remain a source of trouble when they take on new roles at work and in life.
To address the issue of delays in receiving an NHS ADHD assessment, Nice has endorsed the use of an electronic test to help speed up diagnosis. It will be accessible to psychiatrists and specialist pediatric doctors in England to assess six- to 17-year-olds. The QbTest is able to determine if a child or young person is suffering from the three main signs of ADHD which are hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. It can help improve outcomes for children with ADHD by reducing the amount of time it takes to identify the disorder.
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If your child's symptoms are serious enough to cause an impact on his or her daily life, then you may request your GP for a referral to an expert nurse or psychiatrist. Then, you can undergo an assessment with a specialist who will cover general mental health and the assessment of ADHD. Psychiatrists or nurses can prescribe medication to treat ADHD symptoms.
The assessment should be semi-structured to allow for an elicitation of symptom and impairment data that are crucial in the process of diagnosing ADHD. The assessment should be open-ended to encourage a open and honest response, as well as the assessor using real-life scenarios to probe deeper than the initial clinical impression (which can be inaccurate). It is suggested to look into all DSM symptoms and criteria.
It is vital that a screening for other mental health disorders is performed, especially those which can mimic the symptoms of ADHD or are comorbid with it, including bipolar disorder and depression. It is also worthwhile to consider whether there is any history of substance abuse or an eating disorder, as these can affect the result of a diagnosis of ADHD especially if left untreated.
The NHS assessment process is often lengthy and exhausting for people who suffer from ADHD. This is often caused by a lack of clarity about what is being evaluated and the fact that a lot of healthcare professionals have preconceived notions about what a person with ADHD 'looks like'. This can result in people being misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed at all, and sometimes causes lengthy waiting lists for evaluations.
The result of the assessment should be documented in a document which explains if the ADHD assessment criteria were satisfied. It should also contain an assessment and a discussion of the next steps. (Usually the next step is the referral is to your GP to be treated jointly). This may include a brief overview of treatment options. It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis is only the beginning of the management journey. It is also crucial that a discussion of the more general educational and psychosocial aspects of managing ADHD are part of the post-diagnostic discussions, which NICE recommends.