Despite ADHD being predominantly genetically inherited there is no blood test for ADHD. In many countries, getting an adult ADHD diagnosis can be tough. It may feel like a daunting challenge. Having been diagnosed four times ADHD myself (3 private, onc NHS) and having run an ADHD clinic, I offer some thoughts here on getting an ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD diagnostic criteria give a fairly narrow picture of ADHD. If you want to discover what’s been missed, like about our volatile emotions, then check out my illustrated page: What is ADHD? is a comprehensive guide to the impact of low dopamine and weakened executive functions have on our decisions, values, and lives.
Though these guidelines are focussed on the UK, much of the advice below applies wherever you live. You can check out the medical commitment to the formal diagnosis of ADHD here: European Consensus Statement on ADHD.
Diagnosis in the UK is performed exclusively by a qualified Adult ADHD Specialist but you may have to negotiate with GPs, psychologists, nurses and even psychiatrists ignorant of the science of ADHD. Responses from professionals you encounter may seem like pure anti-ADHD prejudice. The support is there but thin on the ground, reaching a specialist with solid adult ADHD experience may demand perseverance.
In England and Wales, adult diagnosis is based on the NICE Guidelines which were published in September 2008, prior to then Adult ADHD was not recognized by the NHS. The NICE ADHD Guidelines sadly have done little to improve investment in ADHD services, which overall continue to be a disgrace. Specific NHS health regions do a better job, in particular, the Maudsley Hospital in London provides a national ADHD adult diagnostic service and provide an outstanding service to many adults across the UK. There are many private psychiatrists, particularly in London who can help with an often speedier, more professional and understanding diagnosis, costs typically range from £600 to £1,200.
ADHD diagnosis is usually a pretty thorough process. A psychiatrist will, somewhat subjectively, evaluate whether your ADHD symptoms cause you significant impairment. They will wish to rule out other causes like depression, anxiety or thyroid issues. They want to confirm symptoms have been present since childhood – old school reports may have to be found in the back of a cupboard. See some of my school reports here.
Frequently, supporting evidence from relatives is requested, sometimes by completing forms about you and your childhood and even to attend your diagnosis. Not easy when your parents may be elderly, forgetful and disinclined to label their grown-up child.
Clinical assessment usually includes ADHD questionnaires (like the DIVA test here) and a structured interview with a psychiatrist. Expect the psychiatrist to investigate current issues you may have in a work, family and social context. Typically they will verbally confirm your diagnosis and follow up with a formal letter. Medication is usually the first and only treatment on offer.
Getting an ADHD diagnosis usually demands a lot of patience and some resilience, but is it a worthy investment in your time and perhaps money? Most ADHD adults will see their lives significantly improve post-diagnosis. Though ADHD medication can play a big part of this, it is certainly not necessary or the only solution. Great benefits come from our changed perspectives with the certain knowledge of being ADHD. Effective new approaches, new behaviours, and new plans come from these insights and from taking a new ADHD approach to life.
Take along the DSM V Diagnosis Criteria, with the relevant symptoms circled, be ready to give some “extreme” instances of how they have negatively impacted you
Take a copy of the NICE Guidelines along, so that if necessary you can show that the NHS fully supports adult diagnosis
Once diagnosed you may be offered medication. The more experienced psychiatrists would agree that finding the right medication and the right dose can take from a few weeks to many months. If your specialist considers all medications to be the same it’s not a good sign! The three main drugs offered for adults are:
These medications vary a lot and even medications from the same family like methylphenidate: Concerta, Medikinet, Ritalin, Equasym – may affect you differently, the compositions are not identical and the fillers and dispersal methods vary.
UK NHS specialists tend to prefer to prescribe Methylphenidate first, Atomoxetine (Straterra) second and Dexamfetamine last. Which is odd since Dexamfetamine has the edge in clinical effectiveness with Methylphenidate second and Atomoxetine last. Unfortunately, many UK ADHD specialists don’t plan for lengthy titration periods, so if your initial medication does not work – be prepared to push to try out another.
If methylphenidate based medications like Ritalin or Concerta don’t work well for you, then you could ask to try out a new dexamfetamine variant called lisdexamfetamine. Doctors often irrationally fear dexamfetamine, which I have never really understood from the clinical evidence. GPs seem unconcerned when regular painkillers like aspirin kill thousands every year but are horrified by dex! In large part they are heavily influenced by the UK prescribing regulations, that deem dexamfetamine more dangerous and open to abuse. Consequently, doctors have to sign especially restrictive prescription forms for dexamfetamine based drugs.
Lisdexamfetamine is considerably safer than regular dexamfetamine. The manufacturers, Shire, link a lysine molecule to the dexamfetamine molecule rendering it inactive until digested. No option to sniff or inject it and a far smoother and longer action. Brand name in USA is Vyvanse and in Europe, it’s Elvance, a slow release dexamfetamine medication in a non-abusable form and licenced for children only (as usual) in Europe.
To date, most ADHD medications, are prescribed to adults “off-label”, not using the drug as designed/ licensed. Since almost all ADHD meds are only licensed for children, it means the GP has to bear some additional unwanted responsibility. A “shared care” agreement allows your specialist ADHD psychiatrist to shoulder responsibility, usually GPs demand one. See as example North Bristol Adult ADHD Shared Care Guidelines.
It’s hard to judge how the medications are affecting you, as obviously you are actively changed by their effect. We vary so much day to day, ADHD medication may make you feel like you are having an effective day but not outside your normal bounds. Daily changes in sleep, diet and mood can hide immediate benefits, so persist and assess over weeks not days. Don’t rush to find the ideal dose, take your time to see the subtle effects.
Try keeping an “ADHD medication journal”, give yourself marks out of five on sleep, mood, focus, procrastination, but make some specific to your personal needs from the medication, e.g. hours spent on report or no. times distracted. That way you can track progress more accurately and less forgetfully! Ask for meds feedback from friends and relatives, their responses may surprise you, they may see more improvements than you do – after all, perfectionism is a key part of ADHD!
When you have your next psychiatric consultation about your dose, you will be clearer and more convincing. If you can show your psychiatrist your daily medication trends, it will lead to you more efficiently and effectively finding the best drug and dosage.
Andrew Lewis is an ADHD Coach, writer and founder of SimplyWellbeing. He has over 10,000 hours and 15 years of experience in coaching hundreds of ADHD executives, business professionals and creatives, and previously running a large ADHD support group and an ADHD diagnostic clinic. His business expertise comes from a twenty years career in software, from programming, through marketing, sales and running a few start-ups. His ADHD insight is personal, with decades understanding his own ADHD experience and in bringing up his ADHD daughter. He has published his writing primarily via this website, with interactive ADHD courses in development.
