Adult ADHD assessment

[Umbalala]

I’ve been certain I have ADHD for years. My cousin has it, I’m pretty sure my father does and my 6 year old has just been diagnosed with it.

I’ve decided to get an assessment for myself as I think medication may help with my symptoms. I don’t really want to wait two years for an NHS appointment.

Would I be unreasonable to spend £1200 on a diagnosis? This is the quote I’ve had from a very experienced psychiatrist near me. Is this the going rate? Would it be silly to go with a cheap online company?

@Baystard that’s a good idea, think I’ll do the same

@Baystard

I'm exploring a private diagnosis and then, if I'm actually diagnosed and find medication useful I can get on a list for NHS assessment. I assume that if I have a private diagnosis I'll at least be able to get on an NHS waiting list a bit more easily.

If I don't get a diagnosis or don't find medication helps I'd rather not have had to fight with my NHS too. If I do find medication helpful then I'll be reassured that there's a point to pushing NHS for a diagnosis.

At first when I got my NHS assessment date through the door straight after (less than a week after, I couldn't make this up!) my private diagnosis I was gutted about the wasted money but now that I've thought about it, I agree with your thinking.

When I had my NHS autism assessment earlier this year, it was really perfunctory and superficial. The questionnaires were really weird and based on ancient, out of date theories. The psych himself was brusque and basically told me at the start of the appointment that he wouldn't be diagnosing, no matter what. When I went private a few months later, they couldn't have been more thorough. The psych knew which questions to ask, she took a holistic approach and looked at various different things which the NHS hadn't even asked for. I was then diagnosed with ASD.

Therefore, I'm a bit gun-shy about NHS neurodivergency services. However, I spoke to the ADHD clinician yesterday and basically warned her that I will be providing all of her questionnaires, an additional screening tool, all of the questionnaires I sent to Psychiatry-UK for my private assessment, and the final diagnostic report from them. I will not be leaving that NHS appointment without a diagnosis

I'd get your name on the NHS waiting list but also look into going privately. Private diagnosis can be a bit of a minefield. I had a private ADHD dx 14 years ago, but it wasn't accepted by the NHS. I procrastinated for years before finally pushing for NHS assessments for ADHD & ASD. Been waiting 3 years already & probably will wait another year. Its disgusting!

I’m speaking to my doctor this morning, I’ll report back.

Hope you get some good news @Umbalala.

My GP has accepted shared care with psychiatry U.K. I paid for private assessment.

So my GP was great. She said that NHS England has stopped referring adults temporarily as there were so many and that generally they don’t take over supplying meds unless they’ve prescribed them but it’s possible. She getting her secretary to check whether they have restarted referring and she’ll get back to me.

That's great news OP, I'm glad your GP is taking it seriously.

I got my ADHD report back from Psychiatry-UK this morning and it's really thorough. I don't see how the NHS clinician can refute anything it says so between that and all of the questionnaires and examples I have ready to send over, I'm confident I should get to do my titration on the NHS. It's a relief because, while I could technically afford it, it's a lot of money saved this way.

@amusedbush that’s great news. How much did it cost if you don’t mind me asking? My doctor suggested them too.

Psychiatrists UK currently had over an 18 month waiting list!!!

@Umbalala

The assessment and report was £360 all in. Their waiting list is well into next year now because of Right to Choose (in England, doesn't apply to me in Scotland) so they have gone from a few weeks' wait to a year but you can find the odd cancellation if you keep checking. My appointment was at the start of October and I only booked it three weeks before because I found a cancellation.

I paid an extra £30 for a letter to give to Disability Services at my university. The 12 month follow-up appointment is £180, titration is £105 per month (they say it takes 2-3 months) plus the private prescription and meds are £70 - £150 per month.

So, realistically it can cost about £1200 but you pay it in stages. So far I have only paid £360 and if everything goes well with my NHS assessment, I won't have to pay anything else. Because my local trust refuses to take on shared care, I would have had to pay all of that plus £100 a month for meds for the rest of time...

My referral to ADHD clinic / assessment /and diagnoses all within 12 Months. Have now been transferred back to GP to continue with meds. The meds work as I am more able to focus on tasks that have to be done and recently started reading again. But I would like to get on with projects I have been meaning to do- I still can't seem to organise myself enough to to get these done.

Sorry mean to say that was NHS - in London

@Itreallyistimetochangethings

My referral to ADHD clinic / assessment /and diagnoses all within 12 Months. Have now been transferred back to GP to continue with meds. The meds work as I am more able to focus on tasks that have to be done and recently started reading again. But I would like to get on with projects I have been meaning to do- I still can't seem to organise myself enough to to get these done.

It's a postcode lottery for NHS ADHD support. I was referred to the Glasgow service in around April and my assessment is on the 1st November, so unbelievably fast by NHS standards.

Other parts of the country have a 7 year waiting list. The average is 3 years, which is so shit for the people in those areas.

As someone who was diagnosed as an adult I had to do the same with medication. The private therapist (I'm assuming, you probably said so sorry if wrong) can refer to your GP but they want to make sure it's correct first. How I did it was had to pay for the private prescription first (shop around, different pharmacies charge different prices. Superdrug was the cheapest for me) and then when they know it's right they do the GP referral.

It sucks, I know. However, the medication changed my life and you'll 100% feel it's worth paying the first expensive amount.

Also..... I needed to go up my dosage but the private doctor didn't put me through all of that again and made me check in. Hopefully yours will be amazing too. PS I'm on (was as off now pregnant) Elvanse x

@louisallwright -I am
Can I ask for examples of the difference it has made to your life - I am Also on Elvanse - I find I can focus on things I have to do but still can't motivate myself to do things for pleasure - like going for a walk or cycle sorting the cupboard or decorating a room / or writing a CV. But I am able to focus on work. I also cycle as a means to get something done - like shopping but not for pleasure.

@HearingThings

I’m in NI and have put off speaking to my GP about assessment for ages due to various reasons. I have now decided to speak to her. However my friend has also just spoken with their GP and she was told they are no longer referring for ADHD so she will have to go private if she wants an assessment. does anyone else know if this is right? Can they really just have a blanket refusal policy?

@HearingThings I'm also in NI (Western Trust) and have also been putting off seeking a GP appointment to discuss a referral for assessment. Do you know what Trust your friend was under? I don't know why I'm so afraid of making the GP appointment and asking for a referral. It's been weighing so heavily on my mind over the past few months. Everything I read just seems to describe me and my personality.

Hi @wishihadagoodone she is in the south eastern trust. I’m in the same trust and I’m seeing my GP next week for a couple of issues so I’m going to ask about a referral. Nothing to lose by asking.

@HearingThings
I'm going to call next week.
Do you need to give reasons why you think you need the assessment? I'll have to make a list, my memory is shockingly bad.

I’m not sure tbh. I’ve started noting down my behaviours/responses to things/history as it comes to me in preparation for the appointment. I’m not sure what my friend had to say to the GP. She said the Gp referred her to a mental health practitioner and it was the MHP who told her they aren’t doing referrals.

I was diagnosed by Psychiatry-UK in June, having approached my GP a week before Christmas. Great timing, I know - but once you get an idea in your head, you have to follow it, don’t you?

I was informed last week that I was nearing the top of the list for titration, so I should be hearing from them soon. My understanding is that, if meds are found to be suitable and they have me settled on the right dose, they will seek a shared-care arrangement with my GP. If the GP refuses, Psychiatry-UK will continue to prescribe the meds and send the bill to the CCG.

Gosh, it’s a postcode lottery for sure.
I was diagnosed with ADHD early this year, in my forties.
It took six months - all on NHS.
Bloody awful that this isn’t available countrywide.

What are the latest medication for ADD my son was diagnosed with it aged 8 he’s now 35 No purpose in life Alcoholic and drugs and smoking No help or support from social services He took Ritalin for 10 years whilst at school but it was a disaster bully of head who called him and his previous school such and such cast offs he spent more time at home no catch up so no wonder he failed Anybody know where he can get good support He is due to see a new psychiatrist on 1:11 🤧He has being seen by Mental health team Sony Feb 2O absolutely useless medication did not work but they wouldn’t change it I’m desperate on first names with the police!!

[quote Itreallyistimetochangethings]@louisallwright -I am
Can I ask for examples of the difference it has made to your life - I am Also on Elvanse - I find I can focus on things I have to do but still can't motivate myself to do things for pleasure - like going for a walk or cycle sorting the cupboard or decorating a room / or writing a CV. But I am able to focus on work. I also cycle as a means to get something done - like shopping but not for pleasure. [/quote]
I had to go from 30mg to 50mg to get the most out of it. I doesn't give me motivation, it gives me the ability to sort my life to do the crappy jobs if that makes sense. The struggle of executive function is the biggest bonus and makes me not feel like a "failure" and levels out my 0-100 temper. I think the years of "trauma" pre diagnosis where I was put down and wrongly diagnosed is a factor where therapy need/needs to assist alongside the medication. Not saying you have that but those feelings can take away from motivating yourself or taking the time for you as it's like you have to make up for lost time and prove yourself. Again may not apply for you but may be a reason xx

I was trying to get out the door on time every morning last week and ended up in tears of frustration most days as just kept finding things that ‘needed’ doing. I was sat on the floor sorting out Tupperware at one point even though I was already running late. Then I end up getting angry because I’m so late and then exhausted and need to go home and recalibrate. Then I have to keep checking my list in case there’s things I could be doing that are more important than what I’m actually doing. Then I remember I need to reply to friend who messages a week ago. Then I realise I missed an important doctors appointment two days ago. Call up and am 5th in line in the queue and start freaking out and for fucks sake-ing because I’ve got better thing to be doing than wasting my life in a queue (have I?).
I really want to try medication 🤪

My doctor says they are doing referrals again and that if I’m diagnosed and medicated and it’s stable then they can take over prescribing.