Private ADHD Clinics Exposed
Many people with ADHD may experience serious personal and professional problems because of unmanaged symptoms. These symptoms could include inability to perform at work, and in relationships, anxiety and depression.
Private assessments follow Nice guidelines and are only performed by UK registered psychiatrists or specialists ADHD nurses or "other qualified healthcare professionals". Each private assessment provider has their own policy regarding GP referral letters.
What is ADHD?
ADHD people have difficulty paying attention, staying still and following instructions. They may talk or fidget too much or interrupt other people constantly. Their issues can manifest in their relationships, careers and overall life performance. People with neurodivergent tend to be creative, imaginative and enthusiastic in their work and social lives.
These issues are usually evident in schools, where students need to be able to sit still and concentrate. It's impossible to learn if your child is rushing around in the classroom, or zoning-out when their teacher speaks. This can result in to poor performance, tensions with parents and teachers and difficulty keeping up at school.
ADHD is diagnosed by a psychiatric provider who examines the symptoms of the patient and their caregivers as well as completes rating scales and questionnaires and takes medical history and a physical exam. A psychiatric examination can include mental diagnoses like depression or anxiety as well as details about the child's development as well as family history and education.
When a person has inattentive ADHD, they only have trouble with the inattentive symptoms and may not be as easily identified as someone with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. This was previously called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children who have inattention symptoms are less disruptive at school, but they have difficulty keeping their attention and organising their work. They could make a few erroneous mistakes at home, or have trouble remembering important conversations or events.
The most common type of ADHD is combined type, which means the person displays at least six of the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. This is the type most people think of when they imagine someone suffering from ADHD.
It's not clear why boys and children assigned male at birth are more than twice as likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis as girls and children assigned female at birth, but it may be because they have more of the hallmark hyperactive-impulsive symptoms that are easier to see and identify. This imbalance demonstrates the importance of having discuss with your doctor any concerns you have about your child, regardless of gender or sex to determine whether their symptoms are typical for their age, and if there's a need to consider treatment.
Why do I require an examination?
There is a growing fear that people are being "over diagnosed' with ADHD/ADD. This is due to a deficiency in funding for NHS mental health services, and long waiting lists for assessment. This has led to many people seeking private assessment and diagnosis services. Some of these private companies are now causing concern as they seem to be selling false diagnoses. The BBC released a documentary titled Private ADHD Clinics Exposed.
This documentary highlighted some of the poor practices within a few private ADHD assessment firms, but the problem is bigger than this. Anyone with concerns about treatment should seek out a healthcare professional who is an expert in this field. This could be a doctor, psychiatrist or other healthcare professional. This will ensure that the healthcare professional adheres to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for the assessment and treatment of ADHD.
In addition to adhering to NICE guidelines, it is important that the healthcare specialist has experience and knowledge in diagnosing ADHD and managing its symptoms. This is why it is essential to choose a provider that offers a comprehensive ADHD assessment. This will include a meeting with the client to discuss their symptoms and how they have affected them and review of their mental history and consideration of other people who are familiar with them.
After the evaluation the doctor can either confirm or deny the diagnosis of ADHD. They will discuss the best way to proceed, including the medication options. They will also discuss any other mental issues that the patient may have, as well as their family history of mental illness.
You should also remember that if your clinician is of the opinion that you have ADHD they will need to prescribe stimulant medications. This is a requirement in the current UK law. private adhd assessments might require a GP referral, whereas other do not. Before booking, you should always check with the company.
How do I obtain a diagnosis?
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a stressful and intimidating process. It is nevertheless worth remembering that an ADHD diagnosis can be helpful. It can help you understand why you struggle with skills like concentration, listening carefully and following instructions, as well as organisation things that are common to other people.
With the right help and guidance, you can overcome ADHD. A combination of cognitive behavior therapy and lifestyle changes could assist you in overcoming the difficulties that arise with ADHD. Adults with ADHD are often characterized by problems with concentration, impulsivity and poor time management. These problems can lead to lower self-esteem, problems at work or the university setting, and even difficulties making connections.
Adult ADHD can be difficult to identify due to its overlap with other mental health issues. Women and people of color are also likely to have a difficult time getting diagnosed due to sexism and racism. This is because doctors might not take their complaints seriously or think that they're not suffering from ADHD.
A private ADHD assessment is similar to a regular psychotherapy assessment, but it will involve more in-depth discussions with your doctor, as well as an in-depth conversation about your symptoms throughout time and in different settings. You will be asked to evaluate the severity of your symptoms as well as their impact on your daily life. The evaluation also includes a physical exam and tests to rule out possible medical reasons for your symptoms.
If you've received an appointment with your GP, Priory will contact you to schedule an appointment with one of our expert psychiatrists. We'll ask you to complete a series of screening questionnaires and provide any supporting documentation that you might have. These tests are used to determine if you have enough evidence of ADHD to be eligible for an assessment.
When answering these questions it's important to be honest and explain in detail how you feel. This will allow us to determine the best options for your treatment. We will discuss the results of your ADHD assessment with you, and then recommend the best treatment strategy.
What happens following the test?
If your GP believes that you have ADHD, they will refer you to a mental health professional, usually a psychologist, for an assessment. The GP cannot diagnose ADHD however they can assist you in describing your symptoms and inquire about your family's mental health history and comorbidities (the term used to describe other conditions that occur alongside ADHD). It's usually beneficial for you as well as your partner or a close friend to be present at the assessment together. The assessment is a conversation with a specialist, which could last between 45 and 90 minutes. The test will consist of the list of symptoms as well as questions regarding your symptoms in different situations and at various times throughout the day.
If the clinician conducting the examination believes you may have ADHD the doctor will discuss with you the available medication options. They will also talk about any health issues that you might have. They will also discuss the way your symptoms affect your social and professional life, and how they're affecting your life in general. They will discuss with you whether they believe you'd benefit from treatment, and if you would prefer to consult your GP to discuss your management.
You may not feel comfortable talking about certain issues with your doctor. You may not want to discuss details of past experiences. You can leave a question blank or refrain from answering it if you're uncomfortable. Some private insurers don't cover the costs of ADHD assessments or medications even if they're diagnosed with ADHD. You should check if your policy covers an ADHD assessment and medication if you have one of these insurers.
Depending on the price of your private diagnosis, a psychiatrist may offer you a plan of treatment or suggest you see your GP to discuss the issue. If you opt to take a treatment plan, your doctor is likely to want to titrate your medication to ensure that you are on the right dosage before prescribing it.