ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention or excessive activity and impulsivity. It usually starts in childhood, but the symptoms can continue into adulthood, although they may present differently as you age. 

Being diagnosed can bring a mix of emotions and questions, and it can be helpful to share experiences and talk to other people with the condition. ADHD can provide its challenges, but putting strategies in place to help manage your symptoms will help you move forward. Talking to other people will help you recognise and utilise the inherent strengths and unique abilities that also often accompany ADHD. 

There are many resources available to learn more about ADHD, ranging from online information materials to support networks and forums. These can help you understand the condition better and navigate the path ahead. Our ADHD Wellbeing Pack provides more information about ADHD and the type of support that’s available. 

While there’s no cure for ADHD, medication can relieve some of the symptoms that cause problems in day-to-day life. 

Treatment approaches can involve pharmacological (medication) or non-pharmacological interventions (such as therapy, coaching or counselling), or a combination. Making lifestyle changes that include a healthy diet, regular exercise and good-quality sleep can also play an important role in managing ADHD. 

Your doctor will discuss the different treatment options available and create a personalised treatment plan with you during your assessment. 

ADHD medications work by increasing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play a key role in attention focus, motivation and impulse control. 

Taking medication can help people with ADHD to: 

• Focus their thoughts and ignore distractions; 
• Improve executive function (skills that help with everyday tasks, such as following instructions, making plans, solving problems, adapting to new situations); 
• Improve their motivation to start and complete tasks; 
• Feel calmer and less restless; 
• Improve emotional regulation (control of their emotions); 
• Be less impulsive, considering the consequences of a decision before acting; 
• Improve prioritisation and organisational skills to manage their workload at school, university or in the workplace. 

For more information about ADHD medications, visit the  Choice and Medication website, or download our guide: ADHD Medication for Adults. 

The NHS funds medication treatment under Right to Choose, but non-pharmacological interventions are not covered under the scheme. 

• If you receive a diagnosis through Psychiatry UK, you can ask to be referred directly to our titration service for medication treatment. 
• If you’ve been diagnosed by another provider but would like to start treatment with Psychiatry UK under Right to Choose, you can ask your GP to be referred to us. 

If you’re currently undergoing treatment with another service, we cannot accept a referral until you are stabilised on medication, or until the treatment has ended. 

If you already have an ADHD diagnosis from another provider but would like to pay for medication treatment with Psychiatry UK, please contact us via our Live Chat service or phone support line. 

Therapy can be useful in treating ADHD, either on its own or alongside medication. It can also be very effective in treating problems that often appear alongside ADHD, such as depression, anxiety or substance misuse. 

Some people find therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), ADHD coaching and support with organising (with a professional organiser), and ADHD-informed counselling to be a useful addition to their diagnosis. 

We don’t currently offer non-pharmacological treatments at Psychiatry UK, but your local GP surgery should be able to help you find out about the options available in your local area. 

You can keep up to date with our current estimated wait times here. While you’re on our wait list, we’ll check in with you regularly and support you with useful articles and resources. 

Behind the scenes, our titration admin team will be working to ensure you’re fully prepared to start titration when you reach the top of the list. We’ll be in touch to request baseline readings of your blood pressure, pulse and weight, along with other important information about your health and the results of any medical investigations requested during your assessment. 

We’re very aware that waiting for medication can be difficult, and reducing our titration wait times is an organisational priority. We’re continuously recruiting new prescribers to the team and developing new technology to automate admin processes, freeing our staff up to focus on delivering frontline care and support to our patients. 

In the meantime, we ask you please to bear with us. Rest assured that we’ll start your titration as soon as we can.