Best way to get diagnosed: Research Study

[Crackpotdad]

Ok, I have no proof behind my theory that a research study (or drug research) is the best way towards an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, but it worked for me.

At 35, there was an ad in the local paper about a new drug being tested for ADHD, and that anyone diagnosed or suspecting of being ADHD should contact the research group. You would receive a free screening at the very least. I had no diagnosis, so I went for the screening and "passed" with flying colors. Things went well for me in the research (couple months), I responded to various tests. When all was said and done, they more than happily wrote a letter to my primary care provider explaining their findings which was very helpful in getting more regular treatment underway once the study was over.

Just a thought.... Entering that study opened a whole new world to me.

[ana futura]

How extensive was the screening? What did it consist of?

[Crackpotdad]

Lots of questionnaires. Interviewed by a couple of people. Short form of an IQ test. Blood tests to make sure wasn't using illegal drugs. Was even tested for smoking as the drug was affected by nicotine. It seemed pretty thorough, and seemed to get it right with me. The diagnosis was all done in a day, several hours, pretty intensive.

[Flory]

best way over here (though its total bs and unfair) is probably to have a childhood diagnosis in the first instance or at least history with a child mental health facility and psychologists, it seems it's almost impossible for adults over here unless they are full blown and noticeable to receive any help and its usually after a very painful and unsuccessful lifetime of struggle, unemployment, trouble with the law etc etc...it seems like the uk is coming out of the dark ages though

[Crackpotdad]

The problem on this side of the pond (aka the Atlantic), is they hand out childhood ADHD diagnosis like candy. Any kid with a problem in a classroom gets an ADHD diagnosis. Worse, it's the kids that I really think have ADHD who are the ones note getting treated.

In later years, I thing there's probably a belief that as an adult, you can't possibly have ADHD and gone undiagnosed. Therefore, it's a lot more difficult to get a psychiatrist to take a call from out of the blue and say "sure, if you say you've got it, I'll give you some meds!". Unfortunately, those with legit problems are paying the price for the unscrupulous individuals who have figured out ADHD is a pretty easy think to make up over a couple doctor visits...

[SquarePeg]

I must be so lucky living in Spain as I expected it to be way behind the UK. Mental health care is seriously neglected here, I think for every 1000 patients that need in patient care only 1 place is available (or something ridiculous like that).

My son´s psychiatrist is an idiot (national health one). For my diagnosis I purposely chose a woman under 40. I was so surprised she didn´t say I was depressed or anxious (I am 47, living in a foreign country, husband working away, suffered depression and bulimia in the past).

The consultation was very quick though and I´m wondering what led her to that diagnosis (other than telling her my son was recently diagnosed and that I couldn´t help him because I was worse than him). Now I think I manipulated her in some way.

Well that´s me all over, fight for what I want and then question it later.

I still don´t understand meds properly and keep hearing that kids that don´t have adhd are taking ritalin etc in the states.

I understand how it could help calm down badly behaved kids but can it really help any child do better at school? I thought if you didn´t need the drug it would have more unwanted side effects.

[sarahsweets]

I'm amazed you think
Meds and .ddx's are handed out like candy. If your a girl that is never tbe case

[talknerdytome]

It's funny that you should post this, I was thinking the other day of this might be the route to getting a diagnosis as there are a couple of studies near me. I have emailed to ask...

[Crackpotdad]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I'm amazed you think
Meds and .ddx's are handed out like candy. If your a girl that is never tbe case

I guess we have been through different experiences. Though I will grant you, there is a huge discrepancy between boys and girls as far as who I see diagnosed.

[peripatetic]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I'm amazed you think
Meds and .ddx's are handed out like candy. If your a girl that is never tbe case

sarah...adore you but must disagree.

evidence: i'm a girl

i'm not saying i think medication's handed out like candy...which...what a ****** up phrase? who would want medication handed out "like candy"...cause i'm thinking halloween...and it's all a jumble...i do'nt want a ******* grab bag pumpkin...

oh my pharma! what a **** show that'd be...one of those pumpkins full of pills. the ONLY thing that'd make me worse about taking medication if it were literally "handed out like candy"...

plus ...are there wrappers?

because, if sol...individually wrapped pills would...so much waste generated.

but then if not...that ****'s going in the trash...ick...



i know i had a point

oh! yes...well i got diagnosed but had nothing to do with it. well, i willingly left class, i guess...and went down the hall...ugh...my first third grade teacher...******* *****.

anyway...i likely don't count on that as you two are prolly talking about self referrals and whatnot.

with medication...i'm not, like...jsut handed a stack of scripts but then...i've just always gone...and tried not to lose the ******* things between office and pharmacy. but i'm prescribed a lot.

not in a halloween candy pumpkin, though.

or any other pumpkin

[peripatetic]

Originally Posted by Crackpotdad

The problem on this side of the pond (aka the Atlantic), is they hand out childhood ADHD diagnosis like candy. Any kid with a problem in a classroom gets an ADHD diagnosis. Worse, it's the kids that I really think have ADHD who are the ones note getting treated.

hahahaha!!! you must've gone to a waaaaayyyyy different kinda classroom than i did. there was one kid diagnosed adhd. me.

where's this ******* candy business coming from? you and sarah...

kidding...i know you're the one who got her on the candy...the post..

wahtever, anyway...like i said...not sure what's up with wherever you grew up when you got diagnosed...but...i wasn't just the only kid in class...i was the ******* only kid in school. which is awesome well...not every school i attended...but multiple expulsions'll do that for you...you traipse all over the county and you're bound to find another one of you.

anyway...my da didn't start me on meds in primary school...so, yes...from changing schools and such, i did encounter ..well...other kids with accommodations plans...i only remember one other one with adhd though. and that's over the ocurse of at least half a dozen schools up through grade six...and i'm low balling it because...that's sufficient to prove point.

i was diagnosed...still have it as an adult so wasn't fooling anyone or...do "really have it" ...if anyone would like to take it off my hands i've always been willing...offer remains.

i don't know where you're voming up with every problem child is diagnosed and the "real" ones are missed....but...i'm assuming you have some actual experience with that? so everyone else in your classes growing up was and you weren't and you think they're all charlatans at age eight?

i mean you realize that sounds absurd, right?

[Crackpotdad]

Originally Posted by peripatetic

hahahaha!!! you must've gone to a waaaaayyyyy different kinda classroom than i did. there was one kid diagnosed adhd. me.

Seems to be some confusion about what I was saying. I'm not saying it was handed out like candy 25-30 years ago. Exact opposite. It practically didn't exist as a diagnosis 25-30 ago. I am talking about with today's kids, and over the past 10 years.

Which brings me to my point- with so many kids easily diagnosed today, I think there is an underlying belief (mistakenly), that you can't possibly be undiagnosed with ADD as an adult because you surely would have been diagnosed as a kid.

Make more sense?

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by Crackpotdad

Therefore, it's a lot more difficult to get a psychiatrist to take a call from out of the blue and say "sure, if you say you've got it, I'll give you some meds!". Unfortunately, those with legit problems are paying the price for the unscrupulous individuals who have figured out ADHD is a pretty easy think to make up over a couple doctor visits...

This matches my experience. I didn't know what ADHD was, my therapist told me I probably had it, I looked into it and everything fit. Then I went to neuropsychologist, and did a whole day's worth of tests, and they told me I had it too.

Diagnosis was the easy part. It became difficult when I tried to find a psychiatrist to treat me. I felt like I was being viewed as a drug seeker, which is ridiculous, as I had never intended to pursue psychiatric treatment prior to being labeled by another mental health professional.

ADHD, meds, psychiatry, none of that was on my radar, and now I was in a psychiatrist's office who clearly wanted to find some whole host of other things wrong with me, and did not want to treat my ADHD.

I assume if I had been a drug seeker, I would have looked up what to say in the DSM, gone straight to a psych or gp, tailored my answers to fit, and had a much easier time of things. Instead I wracked my ADD brain trying to answer his bs questions as honestly as I could "Do I count things? Hmm, maybe? I think so, sure!" giving him fuel for a bs OCD diagnosis.

The ironic thing is that I was trying to do everything right, getting an all day evaluation done first, and this clown was viewing that as drug seeking behavior. As to why anyone would seek these drugs out is beyond me, I can barely force myself to take the crap.

[mctavish23]

This is a very interesting thread, so thanks for starting it.

My take on all this is to simply say that I'd never really thought about this

approach as being an option before. My assumption is that "location," as in

where you live, in proximity to the research site, might be a factor in coming

across the advertisement; although that's strictly a guess. I know that if I

were to conduct a study, I'd want a random sample of urban and rural

populations. Either way, I find it fascinating.

Now, for those of you who know what I've been through the last nine years

at work, the irony of my being selected to write our mental health center's

Evidence Based ADHD Diagnostic Format, will not be lost on you. For that to

happen, it also means that my health has to be good. The fact that I'm at

home typing this, says otherwise. However, it takes a lot to keep me down,

and I believe we're getting close to some answers. So, at some point, I hope

to be able to let you know what the finalized Format looks like. Interestingly

enough, the emphasis that management put on this was how to help young

clinician's spot "drug seekers," versus "real" ADHD. That's not going to

change how I do things, but I found it to be (personally), "a little odd."

However, I "get it," and understand where they're coming from. At the same

time though, I feel like a coach who has to hold up the proverbial ball and

announce, "This is a football." (Yes, I think they're THAT clueless). Anyway,

time will tell.

Thanks again.

u r welcome

[Crackpotdad]

Originally Posted by mctavish23

Interestingly

enough, the emphasis that management put on this was how to help young

clinician's spot "drug seekers," versus "real" ADHD.

Just curious- Is there an equal concern in the profession about parents who are "drug seekers" using their kids to gain access to medication?