Should we investigate adhd assessment or anti depressants for my ds19

My dd was done in 9 days. If you avoid the big chains and find an independent one they can turn it round much faster.

It’s great that you’ve got a plan.

Also, I already posted giving advice early in the thread so I think your reaction was shitty and rude.

I was showing concern. I’m sorry if you don’t feel I was but that’s on you I’m afraid. Knowing the process as well as I do I was very surprised you managed to get it done that quickly.

I didn’t doubt the diagnosis or whether it was the right one for him, I simply queried how quickly it was done.

That seems incredibly quick! How on earth did you get from your OP to assessment and diagnosis in this time?

I hope it is a reputable company and a thorough assessment as surely the information gathering alone would have taken longer.

Also want to point out that the OP has said she is in Scotland. NICE guidelines are not a thing here. NHS Scotland is completely separate and you can never assume that just because something is policy in England/Wales/N Ireland that it applies in Scotland, and vice versa.

That good to hear. I know not all assessment in England are equal.

Actually @Anonymous07200408 having read all your posts - are you actually me? Your son and mine are very similar. We are in Scotland too and the support he has had from uni has been poor. Please feel free to message me if you'd like to chat. It's tough. I get it.

That’s a very quick wait for an assessment. Does it meet the NICE guidelines?

OK I haven't read the full thread but here's my 2p worth.

I have a ND son who was diagnosed as dyspraxic when he was about 16. His other issues were not causing issues at that stage. No issues with academic performance, always well-behaved and engaged with education. University was a total shitshow for him at the start as he started during Covid and due to the Scottish government's over-cautious approach, was in 4 times in his first year. Struggled through second year, failed his third year and had to take a year on suspension to get himself sorted.

It is hard to disentangle his issues and Covid certainly did not help as it stopped him making any connections whatsoever. He was very down and very low and having his last year at school and first year at uni online was a disaster for him. He saw the GP and was started on a low dose of sertraline and this has helped him considerably. It gave him back the desire and willingness to at least try with social interaction.

When he was placed into academic suspension it was clear something had to change for him to complete his degree. We had to pursue a private diagnosis for ADD (he doesn't have the hyperactive bit) and it was not cheap. It was however a proper diagnostic procedure involving a consultant psychiatrist who also works for the NHS. Our GP agreed to prescribe the medication on a shared care basis. He now takes Elvanse every morning and it has helped enormously with focus and just keeping him stable. He's now back at uni and we think he's doing OK.

So short answer - possibly both. Good luck. Ignore all the people who have probably posted telling you that he's 19 and an adult and blah blah blah.

Well done OP. If at all possible I would wait initiating the SSRI’s until the assessment is completed. Best of luck

Double check what the age cut off is, as in my old area the cut off was 25.

The whole internalised PDA description makes me think ADHD task paralysis.

DH is very bright. Admittedly, he didn’t get As through school and university, but did pass our professional exams first time (no mean feat) and did well enough to get into the top 1% of earners. He did it through applying his hyperfocus and obsessiveness to his work. I have no doubt he has ADHD (hyperactive type), and difficulties with executive functioning; but he’s learnt strategies over his adult life to circumvent them, although it’s harder work for him than the rest of us.

My ds is studying neuroscience leading to basically brain surgery
and achieved As all his life
He has Autism and adhd

Of course you can be intelligent with these. In fact you are more likely to have a high IQ

‘ Nearly 2 percent of children aged 8 or younger have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This statistic is well documented today. What’s surprising is that half of these children also have an average or considerably above-average IQ. What’s more, at least two-thirds of people with ASD, particularly those with a high IQ, also have attention deficit disorder’

Go to the GP for an assessment about depression first. If he's depressed, it would impact the validity of a neuro assessment.

I think adhd is unlikely in someone who has effortlessly achieved As through most of their academic life. That implies the difficulty isn't linked to executive function. You might want to consider autism assessment instead.

Ive just looked the Mind over Mood book up and it’s highly recommended

Have ordered so huge thanks for that recommendation and @Anonymous07200408 for starting this thread
and the heads up re gps from @Sk73djej , @SpidersAreShitheads and @RedToothBrush

🙏 it’s all so hard and hoping our children find a path that it best for them.

As an aside OP my ds is at Uni and despite the struggles that’s where he wants to be. Like you, it’s hard hearing how they struggle when you can’t be there face to face.

Just to add I don’t think the shared care stopping is just for adhd meds. I have children under CMHT too and one of the consultants there said they were seeing it for other meds eg anti depressants too. GPs can prescribe sertraline themselves but I’m not sure about other anti depressants so it is something to think about.