Adult ADHD Services

Adult ADHD Services

As you are likely aware there has been an uptick in demand for assessments for Adult ADHD in recent years. A correct diagnosis can be hugely positive and life changing, but the criteria for ADHD can be nuanced and deserves careful thought. 

You may well have done some personal research online and read others’ accounts of their experience of an ADHD diagnosis on social media. You might have already completed one of the readily available brief screening tools online.

We are basing our decisions on diagnosis not just on a snapshot of you today but also on your childhood experiences and if possible/appropriate on input from those who live around you e.g. a parent or partner. It takes time to do this properly.

As an experienced team we are keen to ensure that our assessments are rigorous and comprehensive. We encourage you as complex human beings not to limit your curiosity to a single diagnosis with ‘tick box’ yes/no answers, but to think about what other factors might be motivating your decision to undergo assessment at this time.

There is more than one way to structure the assessment depending on your expectations. All our assessments include a psychiatric assessment.

If medication is appropriate this will be prescribed and titrated by a psychiatrist though the repeat prescriptions might be delegated to our GP or we may complete a Shared Care Agreement to ask an NHS GP to continue the prescription. In recent months this has been less straightforward as the NHS is increasingly burdened. In our experience, a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment including a clinical psychologist generates a report that is more acceptable to the NHS GP.

Our range of options are all informed by the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) quality framework for adult ADHD assessments - the Adult ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard (AQAS).

We think that you should come in person to see us for a thorough assessment though there is some flexibility around follow-ups.

Psychiatric Approach

Our psychiatric ADHD assessment is conducted by a Consultant Psychiatrist who ensures that you are given the best possible care and will consider whether there are other medical or co-occurring psychiatric issues at play e.g. depression or anxiety. Choose this option if you’d prefer to see one care professional throughout your diagnostic journey.

Combined Approach

Our combined Psychology and Psychiatry ADHD assessment offering offers a multi-disciplinary approach; so ‘more than one perspective’.  Your assessment will be conducted by an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Consultant Psychiatrist, who will use their respective training to give a view of your current experiences with a holistic lens. You will be provided with a diagnosis (if appropriate) as well as a brief clinical formulation explaining the root of your unique experiences, which will allow your treatment plan (which may also include a suggested referral for psychological therapy or coaching) to be truly tailored to your own needs.

This pathway consists of:

• 2 hour appointment with Clinical Psychologist using semi-structured ADHD diagnostic interview (DIVA-5) and other relevant questions.

• Further measures and questionnaires administered and scored

• Informant report (taking the opinion of someone who knew you as a child) 

• An assessment appointment with a Psychiatrist which takes between 60 and 90 minutes.

• Tailored diagnostic report including formulation and treatment recommendations
  

Choose this option if you’d like to gain a multidisciplinary perspective and to understand more about how your experiences have shaped today’s symptoms, and/or are interested in psychological approaches to ADHD management.