ADHD Assessment and Treatment Process
Effective 1 August 2024
ADHD Assessment Process
Step 1 – Meeting with our Psychologist (at the clinic):
Firstly, we will offer you an intake appointment with our psychologist for history taking. This appointment will take about one to one and a half hours. Tests/rating scales will be sent after your appointment by email and we will appreciate if you can complete all tests at least three days before your next appointment.
If you have any school reports available, please bring them to the appointment. We encourage reading your school reports in advance and prepare to show teachers comments suggestive of ADHD or other difficulties. If there are no comments suggestive of ADHD, still bring your reports for review. We also understand that some people have no access to their school reports, and it should not affect your assessment.
Step 2 – Assessment with our Psychiatrist (at the clinic):
Collateral information is required for a diagnosis, and we encourage you to bring a family member or someone who knows you well to this appointment. We understand that in some cases it might be difficult or not possible. Please advise us in advance if you cannot bring a family member and we can try to arrange an alternative way to obtain collateral information.
Our psychiatrist will review intake notes, results of tests/rating scales; take additional history, screen for mental health comorbidities/physical problems and conduct an ADHD focused clinical interview.
If treatment with ADHD medication is indicated but cardio-vascular risk factors are identified, our psychiatrist will organise a referral for an ECG (electrocardiogram). Some patients may require further medical input (GP, cardiologist or other specialists) before starting treatment with ADHD medication.
After this appointment, we will send a referral for an observed Urine Drug Test (UDT) to your phone by SMS and the test is expected be completed within 3 days.
UDT can be arranged at Clinipath Pathology. Please ensure you have Photo ID and Medicare card for the test. Please check online (Clinipath website) what office is open for the drug testing before attending as not all labs are providing this service.
Step 3 – Second appointment with our psychiatrist (at the clinic):
Discussing diagnosis, management plan, and starting treatment if treatment is indicated (appointment with a psychiatrist will take up to 30 – 45 minutes at the clinic).
Step 4 – Follow up Appointments:
After stimulant treatment commencement, regular follow-up appointments would be required during the initial stage of treatment (after 1 or 3 months, and then on a 6-monthly basis). The frequency of appointments varies depending on your presentation and complexity.
Medicare rebates apply to all consultations with our psychiatrist.
ADHD Treatment
Stimulant Treatment:
Stimulants can be contraindicated for some physical and psychiatric conditions, and alternative types of nonstimulant or non-pharmacological treatment may need to be considered.
Advice about your ADHD treatment/management will be provided during your appointment with our psychiatrist.
All stimulant prescribing is regulated according to the Schedule 8 Medicines Prescribing Code. You can read more about stimulant prescribing by accessing the Code online as it is accessible to the public.
https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Opioids-benzodiazepines-and-other-S8-medicines
Authorization by the Department will be required in case of comorbidities such as:
- Any history of stimulant-induced psychosis (see Part 1 of this Code);
- Any history of psychosis or bipolar disorder;
- Any history of substance abuse, diversion, or misuse of drugs of addiction or S9 substances within the previous five years;
- A record of drug dependence or oversupply (see Part 1 of this Code);
- A current participant in a Community Program for Opioid Pharmacotherapy.
If treatment with stimulants is indicated, you will be expected to participate in urine drug testing (annually or as per the instruction of the psychiatrist) as per WA Department of Health requirements.