How is ADHD diagnosed?
If what you have read so far sounds familiar, you may benefit from an ADHD assessment. To find out if you are likely to benefit, we’ll send you an easy-to-complete, pre-assessment questionnaire – simply email us at admin@adhdpsychiatrist.co.uk
The questionnaire does not provide a diagnosis, but it helps to ascertain whether you would benefit from a full assessment. Not everyone who receives an assessment will get a diagnosis of ADHD, but many people do. You should be as honest as you can about the answers you provide.
After completing the pre-assessment questionnaire, we can arrange a suitable time to book a consultation. At this point, and with your consent, I can then approach your GP for a summary of your patient history.
If you have any school reports, they could be helpful. Sometimes people find that their loved ones are better at describing their difficulties, so it could be helpful to bring friends or family to part of the consultation.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
The assessment lasts for two hours and will include a full medical and mental health history and a detailed questionnaire to help us quantify the extent of difficulties caused by ADHD. If there are any other mental health conditions I detect as an experienced psychiatrist, I will recommend treatment or direct you to appropriate help as well.
The assessment will be followed by a treatment plan and prescribing can commence as appropriate.
Once the prescribing starts, you will need to have monthly reviews until the medication is right for you, which could take anything between three to six months. Then your GP can assume responsibility for your prescription under the shared care agreement, in which I will review your progress at regular six-monthly intervals.
I am also happy to recommend approaches other than medication if you would like to try a medication-free approach.

