Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / Attention Deficit Disorder, (ADHD/ADD), are neurodevelopmental conditions that are caused by an imbalance of chemicals affecting parts of the brain responsible for behaviour. It is caused by a complex mix of environmental and genetic factors, but it has a strong hereditary link, with studies showing that children of a parent who has ADHD have up to a 50% chance of experiencing the same difficulties.

The core features of ADHD are behavioural characteristics, specifically:

• inattention
• impulsivity
• hyperactivity

But these are not the only symptoms. People with ADHD can also struggle with sleep, regulating emotions, as well as associated conditions, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia (coordination difficulties), and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. Most cases are diagnosed when children are 6 to 12 years old. 

ADHD can be diagnosed in children and adults however the routes of assessment differ. If you think that you or your child may have ADHD, please read the information below and look on NHS inform for more information about the condition. 

For children, the best route would be to speak to your child's teacher at school. They are usually in the best position to be able to share their observations of your child in the classroom and if their behaviour, attention and activity levels are of a concern. Teachers will have experience of managing children with ADHD in the classroom, but sometimes ADHD signs are not always picked up in the classroom, and teachers are aware of this.  If they are significantly concerned, they will be able to look in to more formal assessment and referral to child psychiatry services. 

For adults, the route is unfortunately more complicated, mainly due to the service provision not been able to meet the increase in demand recently from all over the UK.  

If you think you may have ADHD as an adult and want to explore this further , please complete the three assessment forms below:

1: ADHD Screening 

2: Funtional impairment self-reporting scale form

3: complete the online GAD7 screen

Please email the first two forms  in to us on clinical.s70272@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk and then book a routine appointment with a GP to discuss the results.

Your GP will then likely ask you the below questions: 

• What symptoms do you have which makes you think you may possibly have ADHD? 
• Do you suffer with other emotional or mental health issues?
• How long have you had you symptoms for? 
• How do these symptoms impact on your life ? (work, school, friendships, family etc)

We would be grateful if you could take the time to think about these questions, so you are able to make the most of the appointment.

After the assessment, if the GP is sufficiently concerned you may have ADHD , a referral will be made to the local NHS adult psychiatry team. Please be warned though, the waiting time for further assessment is currently over a year. There are quicker alternative private referral routes available which can be discussed with your GP but please be warned , they can come at significant extra costs and currently we cannot take over prescribing of any furture medications from private mental health providers.

Download this helpful parental guide on better understanding ADHD and ideas on how to support a child with ADHD. It was created by Edinburgh Psychoeducation Intervention for Children and Young People (EPIC) through the Edinburgh University.

Click Here to download the pdf booklet

Shared care for ADHD is a formal agreement between NHS Psychiatrists and GP's where the roles of each is clearly lined out when concerned with management of patients diagnosed with ADHD. This type of arrangment is often set up when medication is considered very specialised and has important and serious side effects that require close monitoring.  One important part of shared care proposes for GPs to take over prescribing and issuance of ADHD medications on a NHS prescription once the patient's condition is stabilised on the medication. Meanwhile , the psychiatrist continues to manage and monitor the condition with regular follow up appointments. This has been an arrangement we have had set up in NHS GP/Psychiatry for many years.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of regulation and consistency of assessment, we are currently unable to undertake shared care for ADHD from private mental healthcare providers .  This issue is currently being reviewed at a health board /national level.  Thus currently,  if you have been diagnosed and managed by a private healthcare professional , continued management of ADHD and issuance of medication has to entirely come through this provider.

Of course, if there are any further updates or developments we will endevour to update our patients when this happens. But we apologise for the undertandable frustration this is likely to cause. We are hopeful in the near future, clearer guidance/agreement from the relevant parties will help to clarify and resolve the issue!  Sorry again!