How to Get a Private ADHD Diagnosis
The NHS cannot diagnose ADHD in many patients due to the long waiting lists. Some patients are desperate to receive answers and are willing to pay private providers to provide them with.
A recent BBC Panorama investigation revealed that many private clinics were giving unreliable assessments. This has led to debate and concerns about the quality of care that patients receive.
Diagnosis
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you will need to go through a complete exam by a psychiatrist. While some individuals have their diagnosis confirmed by psychologists or other mental health professionals, a psychiatrist is the only person who can provide you with an official diagnosis for medication. This is important because a formal diagnosis is required to be able to use certain workplace protections, including flexible working, and to be able to access NHS medications.
The symptoms of ADHD are categorized into three main categories that include impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattention. While everyone has some of these characteristics occasionally however, those with ADHD tend to exhibit them in a more extreme form. Hyperactive behaviour includes fidgeting, being unable to stay still or feel uneasy, and could also include trouble with planning and organisation. Insane behavior may include making rash purchases without thinking about the consequences or rushing into situations without proper preparation. Inattentional ADD can be characterized by difficulty in staying focused and avoiding deadlines, procrastination or an inability ability to plan ahead. Combined ADHD is the most common form of the condition and involves problems with both inattentive and impulsive/hyperactive symptoms.
Many adults are hesitant about having a diagnosis, it is essential that you do so to get the help and treatment you need. A diagnosis of ADHD can bring a sense of relief and clarity to your life. It can help you comprehend your symptoms and provide strategies and tools to assist you in overcoming these. Once diagnosed, many of our patients claim that their lives have changed for the better.
The assessment process consists of an examination of your symptoms and their impact on your life, and the completion of the DIVA online exam and an extensive interview. In your assessment, our psychiatrists will have extensive experience in diagnosing adults suffering from ADHD and are extremely skilled at helping you to feel comfortable and at ease.
The Assessment
As an adult with ADHD, you will need to go through an exhaustive assessment before being diagnosed. The assessment must be carried out by an expert in healthcare who is a specialist in ADHD. This could be a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse (though a nurse is not qualified to prescribe medication). It does not matter how high their position in the hierarchy of healthcare professionals, as it comes down to their specific capabilities, experience, and knowledge that define them as a specialist.
A specialist will utilize structured interviewing to gather as much information about your symptoms as possible and how they impact your relationships and you and how long. They will also inquire about the mental health history of your family members and look over your medical history. The specialist will then consider the information gathered from various sources before determining a diagnosis based on the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria.
During the examination you will be asked to complete tests that will measure your symptoms. These tests will also reveal their impact on how you perform in your daily life. You could be asked to answer questions about your symptoms such as memory, inkblots, and other tests, such as puzzles or timed activities. They also take into account any other comorbid conditions that you might be suffering from as they may have similar symptoms to those that are associated with ADHD.
The test will also include an interview with a person who knows you well, for example, a family member, partner or a friend. This is in order to obtain more corroborative evidence of your ADHD symptoms and to see how they impact your relationships or work.
The specialist will be able to provide a full explanation of the findings of the examination, as well as the treatment options available. This could include a shared-care contract with your GP (where you only pay the NHS prescription fee). The doctor will go over their holistic recommendations for your care and discuss any medication they believe is appropriate.
Treatment
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is not easy for adults with the condition. The first step is to conduct a private evaluation by a specialist doctor who will confirm or deny the diagnosis. They are typically psychiatrists who have extensive experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders. The doctor will also be able to tell you if you have other mental health issues that might explain some of your symptoms, or if the symptoms are caused by the medication you're taking.
Once the assessment is completed, your clinician will discuss the results with you and suggest the best treatment plan. Depending on your requirements, this could mean starting medication or psychotherapy. Most people with ADHD are prescribed stimulants to help improve their symptoms. These drugs are believed to boost the availability of the brain's natural chemical messengers such as dopamine and norepinephrine which play an important part in regulating attention and movement. Once the medication is taken regularly, most people find that their symptoms get better quickly and effectively.
Adults with ADHD might benefit from a treatment program that focuses on improving their self-esteem and relationships. This can also include practical strategies to reduce their stress and increase their ability to manage their time and tasks. Certain people with ADHD can also benefit from dietary modifications that can boost their energy levels.
Certain adults might have a harder time getting the diagnosis of ADHD particularly those who belong to an ethnic minority. Certain medical professionals have preconceived notions about what ADHD is like. People from these groups are also more likely to be denied or misdiagnosed a treatment because of this.
Finding affordable treatments and evaluations can be a challenge, particularly when you do not have insurance. However, many hospitals have specialized ADHD clinics that take financial concerns into account. Additionally these clinics are more likely to be enrolled in a range of different insurance plans, and have residents and interns in training who are able to provide treatment under mentor supervision.
Support
People with ADHD struggle to understand the impact of their condition on their lives. They often don't notice that their difficulties in organizing, planning and completing tasks cause problems at work or in relationships. People with high IQs are especially likely to fail to understand the effects of their ADHD. They may develop coping mechanisms that enable them to perform at a lower level than they could. However, these could result in other problems like depression, anxiety, or drug or alcohol addiction.
This story demonstrates the need for seeking out expert diagnosis and treatment for ADHD. There are long waiting lists for NHS treatment, which makes it difficult for many to get the treatment they need. Some people pay for private healthcare, but aren't guaranteed that their GPs will agree to an "shared care agreement" that would allow them to go back to the NHS to receive follow-up treatment after a private diagnosis of ADHD. This could in person adhd assessment result in them having to to pay for private medication and CBT therapy or even more expensive professional coaching services.
Always ensure that any health professional you're thinking of working with has a positive track experience working with adults who suffer from ADHD. You can check this by looking on their website or contacting them to confirm that they have the experience you require. You can also find out if they have experience treating comorbid conditions (disorders that are co-occurring with ADHD).
It is essential to select the best psychiatrist or therapy as they will be the ones who will prescribe medication if necessary. Choose a doctor that has completed specialized training in adult ADHD. You can do this by contacting your local support group for adults with ADHD, or the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) organization to find an expert in your area.
You should also think about your personal preferences when choosing a psychiatrist or therapist. For example, some people are more comfortable with a psychiatrist who is of their gender or cultural. It is also possible to work with someone who is LGBTQIA+ allied or has experience working with clients with kinks.