Given the volume of phone calls for ADHD treatment, we would like to inform our patients of the general procedure at ClearInsight Psychiatry for making an ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD is a real disorder that affects children, adolescents, and adults. It is classified into three different types: predominately inattention type; predominately hyperactivity/impulsivity type; and the combination of attention and hyperactivity type. The symptoms may appear differently in patients of different ages. However, ADHD symptoms, generally speaking, must appear prior to the age of 12 years, and they need to be present in two or more settings such as at home, school, or in the workplace. The symptoms cause significant impairment in a person’s functioning. The symptoms have to have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is more frequent and severe than in one’s peers. The symptoms are not to be better accounted for from another underlying medical or mental disorder(s).
If you were treated for ADHD by a previous psychiatrist or primary care doctor, you must be willing to sign a medical record authorization release form, so that we can obtain the previous medical records.
If you want to be evaluated by us for ADHD, we have to do a thorough evaluation that includes an initial psychiatric evaluation by our clinicians and neuropsychological/psychological testing by a neuropsychologist.