[mrtoni]

Does a general physician ask you a few questions then refer you to a more specialized individual?

What is the testing like?

[Hope-Full]

I was tested by a psychiatrist. There was a lengthy battery of tests, some IQ, some memory, some processing, some open ended, some multiple choice. The tests took about four sessions to complete. Once all the data was organized, she looked at the results and it clearly showed a significant scatter, which she explained was classic of AD/HD. I was then medicated and WOW! I finally knew what it was like to listen, to focus, to learn, to take notes..... (I was a senior in college.) It made a HUGE difference to me and in my life.

The nice thing about the testing is it wasn't therapy. There wasn't dredging up past experiences that were painful. It was more of a "in the last six months, have you..." kind of questions. No digging into the painful past.

[montanan4ever]

I had a rather short interview with my psychiatrist, but I came in with a referral and already had a significant relationship with him (the psych doc). It was basically just a few questions on top of what he already knew about my history.

It would be different if you were seeing a doc for an initial evaluation, but the concept is similar, that it would be a diagnostic interview to start with.

[IndieVisible]

I'm getting evaluated by my T next week for 1 hour then depending on results he will schedule me to see a psychiatrist who will ask me some more questions and most likely sign off on the T's opinion. Unfortunately I will have to wait 3 months to see the pdoc as they only have two

[vans1974]

I know pdocs and psychologists use the MMPI-2 here for testing.

[BackwardPawn]

Its interesting that people had so much testing as an adult. I was tested as a child and they found I had a learning disability. When I went back as a teenager and said I thought I had ADHD as well, they looked back at the original testing, asked a few questions and then proceeded as though I did.

I wonder if having a history of it will be good enough since I haven't been treated since college or if they'll want to do testing. My neuro condition affects my heart and my cardiologist took me off anything he considered an upper until everything was under control. Now he said the provigil was fine and when I asked about amphetamine, he said one upper is the same as another, if I have an issue he'd just adjust my heart meds some.

[19restless51]

I went to two sessions with a therapist at our Employee Assistance Program. He asked me some questions, I filled out the Adult self-questionnaire, as well. At the end of the second session, the therapist recommended that I make an appointment with my doctor and request a 2 week trial of Adderall. My doctor gave me a 30 day supply of 10 mg Ritalin, 2 times/day. I could then get through all my e-mails at work, without constantly getting up and down between e-mails, and my sleep improved a lot. This was four years ago, when I was 58 yrs old. Now taking Ritalin SR, but more of it, and it lasts through most of my work day.

[SeekerOfLife]

I was evaluated about five years ago based on questions asked me by a previous therapist. Unfortunately, no one in my area treats adults with ADD. The county psychiatrist does not have time, and my therapist is not familiar with adult ADD.

[Chergroovy1]

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

I was tested by a psychiatrist. There was a lengthy battery of tests, some IQ, some memory, some processing, some open ended, some multiple choice. The tests took about four sessions to complete. Once all the data was organized, she looked at the results and it clearly showed a significant scatter, which she explained was classic of AD/HD. I was then medicated and WOW! I finally knew what it was like to listen, to focus, to learn, to take notes..... (I was a senior in college.) It made a HUGE difference to me and in my life.

The nice thing about the testing is it wasn't therapy. There wasn't dredging up past experiences that were painful. It was more of a "in the last six months, have you..." kind of questions. No digging into the painful past.

Hi,

WHat did they prescribe to you?