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The Cost of an ADHD Assessment in the UK
If you go through the NHS route, your assessment and medication will be covered by the national health service. However, the NHS typically has lengthy waiting times.
You can also have your ADHD assessment funded privately through the ‘Right to Choose route in England. The services you choose to use must be clinically relevant and not cost more than NHS services.
1. In- adhd diagnostic assessment
During the assessment you will work with an experienced psychiatrist to analyze your thoughts, presentations, and experiences. You will be asked questions about your family history and any mental issues that you’ve had in the past. The psychiatrist will gather information from various sources such as symptom checklists and scales for assessing behavior and will also talk with you and your relatives or close friends about how ADHD symptoms affect you in different settings.
Depending on your healthcare professional’s opinion, it could be important to determine if your symptoms are better explained by medical or psychiatric disorders that are similar to or coexist alongside ADHD. For instance, anxiety disorders can often present similarly to symptoms of ADHD and can have the same impact on work and relationships. Therefore, it is important to rule out other disorders that could trigger symptoms of ADHD before beginning to look into the use of medications or other treatments for the disorder.
The NHS Route
If you choose to go the NHS route, your first step is to visit your GP and discuss the reasons you believe you have symptoms of ADHD. Your GP should treat this as serious issue and recommend you to an assessment. The NHS assessment wait times can be lengthy. If you are unable to wait, you can opt for the private route which is more expensive, but has shorter waiting times.
During your appointment you will be asked some questions and then administered the QbTest which is a computer-based test which measures the core ADHD symptoms of impulsivity and activity as well as attention. It is important to be familiar with the symptoms of ADHD so you can describe how you experience these traits in your everyday life. The psychiatrist will then evaluate your answers and determine the next steps to take, including if you would like to explore the possibility of medication.
2. Online assessment
Online assessments can be more efficient than waiting for an NHS appointment. It is also more costly. The cost of an online assessment for ADHD patients can vary from PS240 to PS2500. This includes the assessment, a comprehensive diagnostic report and medication costs.
In the UK children and adults are able to access ADHD assessments on the NHS through the referral of a GP. The BBC’s investigation shows that there are lengthy waiting times to consult a specialist. One woman from Sheffield, for example is waiting for two years to see a specialist. Suicidal thoughts are among her symptoms, which could indicate that she may not be diagnosed with ADHD.
The NHS guidelines for ADHD assessments say that a patient must be evaluated by a psychiatrist, specialist nurse or “other appropriately qualified healthcare professional” (NICE guidelines). During the examination, a psychiatrist will interview and examine the patient using questionnaires, and observe their behavior. The psychiatrist will assess the severity of ADHD and its impact on daily life.
People suffering from ADHD tend to manage their symptoms with strategies like diaries calendars and post-it notes. However, these methods aren’t always successful. They can cause more stress and confusion, especially for those already struggling with underlying mental health conditions. The evaluation will also include physical examination as well as an examination of medical history.
Right to Choose is a scheme offered by the NHS that allows you to select where you are being referred for an assessment. This is available to everyone who has a registered GP in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You can ask to have an individual service that is partnered with NHS offer an ADHD assessment. If the service is accredited by NHS and doesn’t charge higher than NHS, you can request to be advised.
3. Diagnosis
A psychiatrist or specialist nurse typically conducts an ADHD assessment, using the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). For adults, this involves the assessment of comorbid disorders such as anxiety or depression.
During the appointment, you’ll talk about your current symptoms and family history with the consultant. They’ll also ask you to fill out questionnaires or rating scales. During this process, the expert will assess how your behavior impacts other people in your life, such as your children or spouse.
The psychiatrist will consider all the data to determine if you meet the ADHD criteria, including subtypes. The specialist will discuss their findings and then discuss with you the best treatment.
If a psychiatrist suggests a medication you will be given the prescription to take to any pharmacy of your choice. The cost of prescriptions covers the administrative process and do not include the cost of the drugs themselves, which you will have to pay separately. Additional appointments may be needed if you need to titrate your medication.
It is important to discuss your diagnosis with your GP, as well as anyone else who needs to be aware of it, like your school or employer. Our experts can also provide recommendation letters for accommodations to your education, such as extra time in exams or reduced deadlines.
Some people might have difficulty obtaining an ADHD diagnosis, especially if their GP isn’t convinced that they exhibit the symptoms. If this is the case for you, we suggest reading our Getting an ADHD Assessment page for tips and suggestions on how you can get your GP to send you.
4. Medication
In the UK There are many medications that are approved to treat ADHD. They are usually stimulants, including the well-known methylphenidate drug (Ritalin) and the newer amphetamine-based medicine, lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse). In the beginning, it is recommended that patients start with a small dose of medication that is gradually increased over a number of appointments until a patient is stabilized on their dosage. This is usually accompanied by regular sessions with psychiatrists to discuss the effects of medication and track the progress.
Medications can help to alleviate the many symptoms caused by ADHD and reduce the burden they place on individuals, families and workplaces. They help by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters which allow brain cells to communicate with one and each other. Finding the right medication is a personal choice and may take some time. Once a person has been prescribed the right medication, it is crucial that they stick to the treatment regimen. If you continue to skip appointments or stop taking your medication, symptoms may come back and the medication might not be as effective.
A psychiatrist expert will not prescribe medication in the assessment session. However, they can refer you to an expert who will go over your options for medication with you and prescribe if necessary. This may require additional titration sessions to determine the appropriate dosage, and regular checks to ensure that the medication is working. Most of the time the NHS does not cover your prescription and therefore you will have to pay an additional cost from your pharmacy.
Private clinics charge for follow-up consultations. This includes writing and sending recommendations to schools or employers if needed. It can include advice and direction about medication or any medical concerns between appointments by email or brief phone calls (limited to 20 minutes). However, the cost of monitoring and titration are not included in the initial ADHD assessment appointment.
5. Follow-up
The NHS has struggled for a long time to meet the demand for adult ADHD assessment. In the end, some areas have wait times as long as eight years, according to BBC research conducted using Freedom of Information requests sent to NHS trusts.
The assessment process can be lengthy but is necessary for a thorough diagnostic. The psychiatrist who conducts your assessment will speak to you about your medical history and lifestyle as well as the symptoms that you are experiencing and the impact they have on your daily life. You may be asked to complete questionnaires or rating systems to help the consultant assess how you are feeling.
Following the clinical interview after the clinical interview, you will receive an evaluation from your doctor that will include the diagnosis of ADHD and recommendations for treatment and ongoing support. They will also discuss with you whether ADHD is a contributing factor to any health problems or issues you might have.
There are several different types of ADHD and each one manifests differently for every person. It’s important that you tell your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing, so they can determine the type of ADHD. A thorough ADHD assessment will help you find the right treatment.
Private healthcare providers provide an alternative to the NHS for those who wish to avoid waiting in line and wish to speed up their ADHD assessment. Self-referrals to private mental health providers can allow individuals to access experts who are knowledgeable about adult ADHD more quickly. The process usually starts with a first consultation with a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist experienced in adult ADHD evaluations.