Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Service

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that is characterised by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These should be present before the age of 12 years and the diagnosis is often made in childhood.

For adults with possible ADHD, your GP will assess your symptoms and may refer you for an assessment to the adult ADHD service if:

  • you have not been diagnosed with ADHD but have had persistent ADHD symptoms since childhood
  • your symptoms cannot be explained by another mental health condition
  • your symptoms significantly affect your day-to-day life, such as ;if you're underachieving at work or in education, and find maintaining relationships difficult

You may also be referred to a specialist if you had ADHD as a child or young person and your symptoms are still causing moderate or severe functional impairment.

Prior to your assessment, the specialist will ask you and a family or friend to complete pre-assessment questionnaires about your past and present symptoms. The subsequent adult ADHD assessment will cover all aspects of your life and relate to the DSM V diagnostic criteria. The diagnosis of ADHD in adults cannot be confirmed unless your symptoms have been present from childhood.

Treatment for ADHD usually helps to relieve the symptoms which then reduce the impact of the condition on day-to-day life. In adults, ADHD treatment primarily involves medication. Psychological therapies particularly for associated mental health conditions can be of significant benefit.

What happens once I've been referred to the service?

Once you are referred to the service by your GP, you will be added to our waiting list. Prior to an assessment clinic appointment being arranged, we will ask you to complete some baseline questionnaires.

We hold assessment clinics on a Tuesday and patients are seen by appointment only at Praze Surgery in Camborne. The patient pre-assessment information needs to be returned to the service before an appointment can be provided.

Resources

ADHD medication shortage

We continue to experience difficulties with the supply of ADHD medication. We know this has caused problems for children, young people and families.

This is a national situation because of global demand, and we have no influence over supplies. Our clinicians do not have any access to medication.

In response to the national alert NHS England have advised us not to start any patients on ADHD medication until the supply issue this is resolved. We continue to accept referrals, but you may need to wait a bit longer for your appointment.

If you are already on medication, request your repeat prescription in plenty of time. This will give your pharmacy more time to try to find supplies. Alternatively, you may want to ring individual pharmacies to ask if they have stocks of the medication you need. This could mean contacting several pharmacies, which we know is frustrating and time consuming. We are unable to contact pharmacies for you because it would stop us spending time with children in clinic.

We do not know when supplies will return to normal levels. We currently expect the disruption to last until at least April 2024.

Useful links

Contact us

  • Write to: Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Service, The Clays Area Health Centre, Victoria Road, Roche, St Austell, PL26 8JF.
  • Call 01726 873 305.