Can a GP diagnose ADHD in an adult?

[NancyJoan]

Everything I read online makes me think I have ADHD. Wondering if a GP can diagnose and treat, or if I would be referred and have to go on a waiting list for years.

Psychiatrist, sorry, not GP.

People use online services tho, so you have choic, well, in England.

I'm pretty sure you will be referred. I've been referred for a formal autism assessment. I has a 'triage' type of thing over the phone with a specialist who agreed with the GP and has sent my file to thr team that does
The full assessment. That was end of November. The wait from then is 41 months!!!!

I believe the diagnosis is usually made by specialists which a GP can refer to.

Waiting lists are very long however unless you are able to pay for private assessment.

The GP can’t diagnose but they can refer you to the relevant assessment pathway. Unfortunately wait times are very very long, I’m awaiting assessment and was told wait list would be long. I have accessed mental health support in the past where I was told the same and usually the wait lists were 6-12 months so I was expecting a wait along those lines but when I receiving my referral through it stated the current wait time is 6 years long!

Thank you. Will look at a private appointment I think!

I have ADHD, please be aware that if you go privately, and you are diagnosed with ADHD, and are prescribed medication, if your GP denies shared care, you won’t get prescriptions on the NHS and you will be stuck paying £150 - £200 per month for medications.

a GP can deny shared care if they feel it’s outside of their competence, especially as ADHD must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist.

this is so important, if you can’t afford the monthly meds, then don’t get a private diagnosis without ensuring your GP will agree to shared care afterwards.

@MabelMoo23Can I ask if it's usual for a GP to deny shared care? I'm looking for a way to help my son. Do I just ask and take it from there?

I think it depends where you are about waiting list times, I would check with your gp before even thinking of going private. I am in Lincolnshire and 8 weeks ago my ds (adult) went to the gp who refferred him for assessment, they have just called this morning to book him in.

GP’s don’t generally diagnose a lot of things. They are generalists who refer on to specialists for diagnosis and treatment advice. They can then take over the ongoing care, but you tend to go back to the specialist for major changes etc.

The wait for ADHD assessment on the NHS is long and your GP is very likely to palm you off with antidepressants/IAPT instead.

A diagnosis doesn’t have to mean medication. That’s an option to explore if you choose but not the only option. There are many reasons a GP might not want to take on shared care for medication, often to do with budgetary demands and NHS systems.

@Guardsman18 many deny shared care when it’s a child. It seems to be seen as risky.

Thanks for your replies. I posted in SN and as nobody replied I thought I'd ask here but haven't given the full picture - sorry!

DS will be 18 soon, has been diagnosed with ADHD and has just started new medication. Hospital have said that at 18 he will no longer be under their care and that he may or may not be able to access the adult service. Threshold is very high apparently. I was wondering what to do to help him so thank you for this.

You can self-refer to PsychiatryUK, which is funded by the NHS. Someone close to me applied in May and had a diagnosis and titration for meds by October. The regular NHS pathway would have been 4 years minimum.

As he has a diagnosis would Psychiatry UK need to do their own assessment?

I’m under psychiatry UK. Yes they will need to do their own assessment - but yes they can see if over 18

Do you have any idea why they would need to do their own assessment? Surely the documentation from previous doctors would be enough? Obviously not but it just seems unnecessary.