I’ve just received a diagnosis of ADHD; what now?
At Releaf Psychology we appreciate you may have many questions about the outcome of your assessment; this is why we include a one-hour feedback appointment as part of the assessment package. This involves going through the findings and outcome of the assessment (i.e. whether you meet criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD or not) and what this might mean to you now and in the future. We will also talk through the report we have written to clarify anything you are unsure about. You will receive a “supporting letter” which outlines your diagnosis and what that means for employers; some people find this helpful to provide to employers or educational settings.
Common topics that we discuss in feedback appointments include:
- What support is best indicated for my particular difficulties?
- How can medication help me and how do I get prescribed this?
- Can I get support from my local NHS service once I have a diagnosis?
- What additional reading or resources are out there for my particular difficulties?
- How can my employer or educational setting support me?
- What psychological therapy is best suited to my difficulties?
Psychological support following a diagnosis
If you would like to receive psychological support following a diagnosis of ADHD we would be happy to support you with this, subject to therapist availability. We have worked with individuals to understand the diagnosis and what it means in relation to their life experiences, as well as manage some of the symptoms such as impulsivity, time management and organisation. We can also support you with common difficulties that can co-occur with ADHD such as anxiety and low self-esteem. Fees for psychological therapy can be found on our services page. We hope to run webinars and provide some informative packs in this area in the near future, watch this space!
Medication & care through the NHS
We appreciate that a number of people wish to explore whether medication for ADHD may be helpful to them. At Releaf Psychology we do not prescribe medication but can signpost you to psychiatrists in private practice who can offer you a consultation and prescribe this. The below information is important to consider if you want your future care to be provided by the NHS.
Medication for ADHD is governed by the NHS Amber Protocol; this means that your GP can only provide a prescription for this medication if you have been stabilised on a suitable dose by a specialist (i.e. typically a psychiatrist). There are a few possibilities here when you have received your diagnosis privately:
1. If you live within the catchment area of an NHS ADHD service, they may accept your private diagnosis which would mean your follow up care, such as management of medication, would be managed by an NHS psychiatrist or appropriate prescriber. Whether a private assessment is accepted varies from service to service. It is worth contacting your local service to see if they have a policy on accepting private assessments.
2. After your private diagnosis you can choose to see a private psychiatrist for a consultation to prescribe medication for ADHD. You will incur the cost of the psychiatry appointments and medication fees which can vary widely. Once you are on a stable medication the psychiatrist can ask your GP to take over prescribing via the shared care protocol (see more on this below).
The Shared Care Protocol
The shared care protocol is an agreement with you, your GP and your psychiatrist. It was introduced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in 2018 in relation to the diagnosis and management of ADHD in adults to ensure comprehensive and effective care. This means that after you are on a stable dose, your psychiatrist can enter into an agreement where your GP can take over responsibility for your care (thus providing future prescriptions). However not all NHS GP surgeries prescribe medication on a shared care agreement, and we would encourage you to discuss this with your GP in the first instance.
The ADHD ADULT UK charity offers some guidance should your GP refuse a shared care agreement; more information can be found here: https://www.adhdadult.uk/shared-care/
More information on the shared care protocol can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/regional-medicines-optimisation-committees-advice/shared-care-protocols/.
Adult ADHD NICE Guidelines can be found here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87