Private pasychiatrist for adhd - please help!

[legskneesandtoes]

DS1 has a diagnosis already of adhd. CAMHS psychiatrist dragging and dragging on meds.

I've posted before but now I really am desperate. DS1 has aggressive behaviour and meltdowns, can't concentrate on anything - can't sit down long enough to eat a meal. Doesn't GO to sleep, wakes up 1-3 times a night and has to be shushed back to sleep. He's 9!

Pasychiatrist sent a diary to school a year ago and the inexperienced teacher filled it in in a hurry and made him look 'ok'. Never mind that he got two 'red cards' in the diary period for bad behaviour (in lunchtime). Psychiatrist said the diary showed not a good reason fro meds.

He hasn't really progressed at school in a year. he'd behind. He can't go out to play at school as he gets in trouble. He's tired at school.

She ahs agreed to send the diary to school again. This is going to take months and months more to sort. She won't give him Melatonin or Circadin (slow release Melatonin that keeps you asleep) because she is doing CBT with him. I've had it with CBT and anger management. He can't use the anger management because he's too distracted to concentrate on it when angry.

The CAMHS psychiatrist has stated that stimulants 'won't help the aggressive behaviour'. I disagree with this. How can a child who gets angry and frustrated because he is impulsive and can't control it, loses friends, and can't think long enough to compete a task not be helped by meds that help him focus??

I'm going to see the SENCO today.

I want to see a private psychiatrist - but will they want to do a whole assessment again? will I be able to get help quicker? how will it mesh with NHS?

Help!

[MeirAya]

What do school think about the 'wait & see' approach? Could you get them to write a stiff letter directly to the paediatrician asking for action?

Diaries are all very well, but a letter might be faster and/or carry more weight. Sounds like school could officially confirm he is, pretty much every day, exhausted from lack of sleep; permanently excluded from in-school social activities; not able to concentrate and learn for a whole year; unable to control his impulses to keep himself and others safe.

CBT is often fabulous, but, if meds are needed, it might have more effect after they're prescribed.

[DigestiveBiscuit]

Well, I don't understand your Cahms psychiatrist.

DD and I spent 2 hours with a psychiatrist on Friday for an ADD assessment. He talked informally at first, then did a questionnaire. We had both done another one already. She talked at length about how she switches off all the time and never knows what is going on; and her short temper! At the end of it, he diagnosed ADD and offered her Ritalin - no need for diaries to prove she needs it!

[DigestiveBiscuit]

Oh and she is already getting DBT to help her control her emotions!

[DigestiveBiscuit]

PS - Richard Soppitt is a. NHS and private child psychiatrist. He works for the Priory Group clinic in Canterbury. Ask him if a private report would speed up your process?

(I saw him with other DD for a tribunal. Half the SEN parents I know have taken their DC to see him privately)

[StarlightMcKenzee]

We've got a referral to a developmental paediatrician for ADHD. I don't know if that might be a better route.

Could you ask for a 'trial of meds' perhaps? If the psychiatrist is doing CBT they will be able to see for themselves whether or not meds have any effect. I think, unfortunately, that they are fairly expensive, and there seems to be a move (good in some ways) to recognise sensory difficulties and provide therapy for that, as well as behaviour management (though very few people actually know now to do that).

[legskneesandtoes]

Thank do advice!

We've had SO much behaviour management stuff. I'm getting SO fed up. If he had been given meds in the first place he may have been more receptive to the behaviour management. He even went on an anger management/mindfulness course which he can't do anything with (maybe it will be useful to do mindfulness when he has meds to be able to concentrate?)

I've booked an appointment with a child psychiatrist from Harley Therapy now. DS has got a 23 page assessment/diagnosis document from the Maudsley saying ADHD and they've said we don't need to be reassessed. It's £250 for initial cons so we shall see.

I'm so annoyed - I've just looked up Circadin again and it's recommended for insomnia in ADHD children by a number of local authorities, yet our psychiatrist said they only give it 'for two weeks' 'In extremis'

[legskneesandtoes]

Can you tell I had no sleep last night

[BertieBotts]

Psychiatrist sounds bloody misinformed you're totally right that the CBT, behaviour management things are all more effective with medication.

[legskneesandtoes]

Update:

Saw psychiatrist yesterday and given low dose of slow-release stimulant. Have been able to have conversations without DS getting overly emotional and have just then on a walk where he held a stick the whole time and didn't hit anything with it. This -never happens

[MeirAya]

Yay