I'm a 30-year-old grad student, going through the assessment process. After struggling with inattention issues for as long as I can remember (extreme procrastination, piles of papers all over the house, losing things, missing appointments), I read "Delivered From Distraction" by Hollowell and Ratey and started crying bc it described my experiences to a t.

So now I am going through the process of assessment, seeing a psychologist through my student health insurance plan. We have already had two sessions, and he says it will take another 4-5 to complete the diagnosis.

Is this normal?

I admit I'm a little impatient for a diagnosis (one way or the other).

Is it "normal"? I don't know. But it was what I experienced also when I sought treatment from an ADHD Specialist/psychologist. I really knew of no other place to seek help because I had been in and out of psychotherapy & antidepressants FOR DECADES at this point -- and ADHD NEVER was brought up once by any of these folks. When I mentioned my wondering about it to my gp, she said, "Well. I don't know anything about that kind of thing, but I can refer you to our SOCIAL WORKER." (I passed on that and sought out a "specialist.")

If your insurance is covering these appts, I'd just stick with it. It'd most likely be quickest since you already have had two appts.

Best wishes,
Sue

Beyond taking a detailed history, what were the other parts of the evaluation?

Did you do neuropsychological testing?

Thanks for your response.

Im from Norway, maybe its different from the US, (Or maybe the US type of ADD is bigger, like the cars and building of yours are bigger?:) but it sounds normal. I saw this psychiatrist for three times, and we wasnt finished yet. He wouldnt tell excact how long time it would take cus, its not like measuring your height

From my experience it's normal. It took months to do the assessment.

My first evaluation took an entire semester (sessions every 2 weeks or so). I never got to finish it because I transferred schools.

Thanks for all of your responses - I like the therapist I'm working with, but just wanted to make sure this time-table is normal.

Anyone care to tell me a little more about what the other parts of the assessment are like? How do you fill up 5-6 sessions?

It took me 5 sessions over about 8 months for my psychiatrist and I to come to the conclusion I had ADHD after an initial diagnosis of OCD. I didn't go in seeking a specific diagnosis, medication, or type of therapy and tried to erase preconceptions. I needed help and didn't know what to do. I booked an appointment with someone who knows more about mental issues than I do and let her guide me.

I think that is the way things usually go go;


Meet with your doctor and describe symptoms
Agree on a treatment approach
Follow the treatment approach
Evaluate treatment approach
Revise, and go back to step 3

Repeat this until you find something that works.

I was NOT expecting an ADHD diagnosis. It was a bit of a surprise. I did expect the relationship with my psychiatrist to involve a constant process of trial and error.

I was surprised by what happened and glad to have taken the time to get things right.

Is it "normal?"

There is no "normal," which is a huge problem.

As someone who does this for a living and has a lifetime of living with ADHD, I wish I could say there's a standardized method of evaluating ADHD, but there's not.

I spent the last 23 years studying /researching / reading about ADHD.

The last 5-6 years have been devoted to essentially trying to provide an answer to the question at hand.

What happened was that I had the privilege & pleasure of studying with Russell Barkley,PhD.,about 5 years ago.

There's not enough room here for me to express my gratitude for his efforts on behalf of both the ADHD & clinical communities.

When I returned to my rural, non profit, community mental health center in the Midwest USA, several of my colleagues absolutely refused to read any of the material I tried to give them.

Even a couple of personal e-mails from Russ were ignored.

Fast forward to today ( 5+ yrs later) and they still haven't read a word of research.

Rather than go into why they've done that, it's more important to look at the "big picture," on diagnosing ADHD with what actually "works."

I won't bore you with the treatment I received form them as a result of never backing down and confronting their unethical & incompetent behavior.

More importantly, I used all the frustration and anger to read the Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis & Treatment of ADHD, from all over the world.

While there isn't one way to do that, what you'll find is that, when you read them, the Guidelines all say close to the same things.

That's led me to develop and Evidence Based (empricially/research supported ) Screen, for the diagnosis of ADHD.

I hope to present on it in the near future,then will see where it goes.

In truth, I actually have them to "thank" for that,as it motivated me.

The best reference source I can give you is:

Chapters 8 & 9 from :


Barkley, R.A.,(2006).Attention Deficit,Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook For Diagnosis & Treatment (3rd.ed.) New York, Guilford.


What you'll find is that there are NO / ZERO tests "appropriate" for diagnosing ADHD.

The most succint explanation is available on pages 8 & 9 of Russ's presentation from the summer of 200 at :


www.schwablearning.org


Hopefully, I spelled that correctly.

Don't be afraid to read about what works and then experss your opinions.

Every state Licensing Board in the Country is there for YOU; the Consumer.

Their job is to police the profession.

I won't go into some personal obesevations on that, but I will encourage you to please read those references and become a better advocate for yourself or family members,etc.

Good luck & I hope that helps some.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

What happened with me is we discussed the symptoms, sent out a question air for my school, Mum and myself to fill in, the results came back, then I was given a trial of medication (ritalin&concerta), side effects were too bad and persistent so they took me off, now I'm sorta stuck LOL
I was getting CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) but I just didn't want to see her anymore. The whole thing started last year in November/December, took a few months to get the results.

They aren't even sure if I do have ADHD now, so I'm awaiting for a response. Because many things are going on at the moment so they want to be sure of the diagnosis. Understandable but I am ****ed they diagnosed me then now saying they don't know or whatever.

I should also add that most clinicians are ethical/honest practitioners.

Having said that, most practitioners in this realm (ADHD), haven't read the research.

Consequently, the use of test scores for diagnostic purposes runs rampant.

The previous remarks concerning no tests being deemed appropriate is (literally) accurate.

Absolutely no type of standardized psychometric instrument ( test) is approved for the sole diagnosis of ADHD .

That includes ALL neuropsych tests, ALL IQ tests, ALL computerized Continuous Performance Tests (CPT's) and ALL checklists.

Test scores serve an ancillary purpose;never primary.

The most accurate diagnostic tool available today is the DSM-IV TR symptom list.

I wish you luck and good health.

I also hope this helps some.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

It'd scare me if i got diagnosed in a single consultation, It'd just show me the doctor hasn't explored all other avenues with anything else i might have. I am booked in early december to see a psychologist.

To follow up on Mctavish23's post and to put in my nickel's worth on a subject of importance to me.

I think that one of the best things we do here is to pass along accurate information concerning ADHD. There is so much "junk" and misinformation out there even with professionals.

My gripe is that people who can ill afford it often spend an inordinate amount of money for an expensive assessment for ADHD that is neither necessary nor valid.

This not to say anything against testing as such as it can give a lot of information very helpful to individual dealing with ADHD such as the comorbid issues that so often go along with the disorder. If you feel this may be useful it may well be money well spent but it is not necessary for the core diagnosis of ADHD

So to reinforce; There are no diagnostic tests that are considered to be valid in diagnosing ADHD. A complete test battery can be quite helpful and is part of a complete assessment of the individual but but is not useful for diagnosing ADHD.

What is normally used in the core assessment:
1 Diagnostic interview using the DSM-IV TR criteria.
2. A well designed survey for home and school.
3. Observation of the child by the professional.

These are the only assessment instruments considered valid for the diagnosis of ADHD at this time.

For those interested this is the diagnostic protocol advised by American Academy of
Pediatrics.
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b105/5/1158

I hope this of some help.

As a note: Mctavish23 has a much greater depth of detailed knowledge of ADHD than I and all would do well to read him carefully. I do manage to hold my own generally though and get in a few licks now and then.

I want to thank Mctavish23 for his contribution to the forum. He has taught me more than a few things and made me go back and research more than once (he has always been right). Can't give a better accolade than that.

Dizfriz