ADHD private diagnosis treatment specialist psychiatrist

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.

ADD is older term that is not used anymore.

ADHD can affect anyone. People of all levels of intelligence, social background, and work profiles can have ADHD.

The symptoms can be varied, mostly there are issues with:

– Focus and concentration

– Organization

– Struggling in education or at work

– Time management

– Forgetfulness

– Impulsivity

– Procrastination

– Having lots of energy

These problems can have a serious impact on all facets of life, including education, job, home life, and relationships. ADHD is commonly thought to be an issue of childhood, the symptoms usually start in early life, and tend to be observable before the age of 6. By teenage the symptoms are apparent. However, adults can have ADHD too, and some symptoms, especially inattentive symptoms tend to be present in adulthood as well. Sometimes ADHD only comes to light during the university period or in work life. From our experience, patients as old as 60 have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Sometimes, ADHD gets recognised after someone seeks assessment for their low mood or anxiety.

How many types of ADHD are there?

Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, ADHD is categorised into 3 types:

– Predominantly inattentive type where the majority of the symptoms are of issues with attention, focus and concentration.

– Hyperactive/impulsive type where the majority of the symptoms are of hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.

– Combined type, in this case the patients tend to have a significant number of both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms.

How does ADHD develop?

The symptoms usually start in early life, and tend to be apparent before the age of 12.

What causes ADHD?

There are no known direct causes of ADHD, but similar to other mental health conditions, ADHD cause is likely to be multifactorial. Research has shown that there is a hereditary component, and the issue lies in the working of certain neurochemicals in the brain. Some life circumstances may lead to experiencing symptoms of ADHD.

There are some known risk factors, including premature birth, low birth weight, epilepsy, and brain damage.

There is often comorbidity with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and other neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. Tic disorders are also found to coexist with ADHD.

Why get assessed and treated?

Undiagnosed and untreated adult ADHD can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. ADHD can affect career, finances and relationships.

People with ADHD face daily difficulties in everyday tasks, maintaining successful employment and relationships can be more difficult. They tend to have low self-esteem as they are not sure why they find some things difficult when others do well with minimal effort.

Untreated ADHD can also be risky and have serious implications for individuals – research shows adults with undiagnosed ADHD are more likely to have car accidents or get involved in criminal activity.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment can improve careers and lives. The benefits can be :

– Understand the reasons for their struggles

– Receive effective treatments

– Improve self-esteem

– Seek appropriate provision to support education and employment

How to get assessed and treated for ADHD?

There is no laboratory investigation for diagnosing ADHD. The diagnosis is based on a detailed clinical assessment. This assessment are carried out by ADHD specialist psychiatrists. The process includes comprehensive clinical interview, rating scales and collateral information

There are 2 ways to get assessed:

Book an appointment with your GP, discuss your concerns and your GP might refer you for an assessment to your local NHS psychiatric service or a private service like us.

Or

Treatment:

If you get diagnosed with ADHD, and want to get treated, there are options available of medicines, CBT, counselling and Coaching. The option, or a combination of choices will depend on the severity of the condition, doctors’ opinion and your choice.

Other interventions:

– Adjustments under the Equality Act 2000, education facilities and workplace are required by law to make reasonable adjustments to support you.

– Psychoeducation for understating the condition for yourself, partners, and family members.

– Joining ADHD groups, and online forums.

– Cutting down on drugs and alcohol.

– Exercise.

– Balanced diet.

Comorbid mental health conditions

ADHD can occur along with a whole range of other mental health issues like ASD, tics disorder, anxiety, depression, personality disorder, and substance misuse etc. If our consultants were to find indicators or the presence of these, they would be happy to offer further assessment and treatment, if indicated. They may also signpost you to other relevant services or resources.

Disclaimer

The above is for information, not advice.

The content is provided for general information only. It is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. It is not in any way an alternative to specific advice.

You must therefore obtain the relevant professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action based on the information above.

If you have questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay.

If you think you are experiencing any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention from a doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

Although we make reasonable efforts to compile accurate information and to update the information, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content above is accurate, complete or up to date.

What is ADHD?