ADHD Diagnosis - How Fast is too Fast?

[cityscape]

Good morning, everyone. I'm glad to be here.

I've had a lot of issues with productivity and accomplishment going back about as far as I can remember, both with things I need to do and things I want to do. I've been focusing on improving my productivity and getting more done for several years, with little success. I came across a description of ADHD late last year that really fit me, and, after a decent amount of research on the condition, I had a couple appointments with a therapist to discuss the possibility that I have ADHD.

In the first session, I was asked a lot of questions about my past and present, about my focus and attention, time management, and so forth - about what you'd expect. In my second session, after the therapist went over some blood test results and a note from a loved one describing their perspective of the issues I have, the therapist said it was very likely that I do have ADHD. I received a prescription for Strattera. Altogether, it was about 90 minutes of discussion.

We didn't formally go through a questionnaire, although I think most of the questions probably came from one. I didn't do any attention tests.

My question is: does that sound too short for a proper diagnosis? Do you think I should seek a second opinion?

Thanks!

[Sparlock]

Given, I am not a doctor, but that sounds about right to me. It sounds like they checked for the genetic markers (blood test), and got verification from people that know you about the difficulty concentrating. The questionnaire goes over the same types of questions that you went over in the first session. Honestly, it's a lot more thorough than the process I went through; though that's probably a good thing. I wouldn't get a second opinion unless you for some reason doubt the results, but it sounds like you were pretty sure you had it and they confirmed your suspicions.

[cityscape in reply to Sparlock]

Thank you for your insight, and I’m glad to hear that this is more typical than I thought.

One note on the blood test - I was the one who wanted it done, not the therapist, to rule out a family condition that mimics ADHD. The test did rule that condition out, but it wasn’t strictly for genetic markers, although the therapist may have used the test to see those, too.

[Supabolide]

I didn't have a single questionaire for my diagnosis, but was in outpatient therapy for my depression and anxiety. It turned out the daily observations they made of me was spot on for Inattentive.

I even did my own research afterwards to be sure, and everything started falling into place. I'm close to the textbook definition of inattentive adhd. Any counselor I saw after said the same as well.

[cityscape in reply to Supabolide]

It does seem like there's a lot of weight in matching up with the definition of ADHD. When I first starting reading about it, it was amazing how closely I fit. Thank you for your insight!

[Wildbrain]

My diagnosis and prescription all happened in a single visit. No blood test. I felt it was too casual. But it sounds like it's not uncommon. That was about 8 months ago. I have thought about it a lot, asked here as well and have started thinking it may have actually been appropriate given my doctor specializes in ADHD and and probably spot it from a mile away. Still not 100% convinced it's right to do everything in a single sitting though.

[cityscape in reply to Wildbrain]

Yeah, it was a bit unnerving. I guess it's that something with lifelong implications feels so casual to have diagnosed in such a short time. Thanks for your insight!

[gphill56]

I think those of us that have ADHD (prior to a formal diagnosis) don' t always realize that what we think is normal behavior and "that's just the way i am" ...is easy for a professional to recognize as Iikely ADHD. I imagine those questions that are used either on paper or asked of us verbally have been thoroughly researched, reviewed, etc. I know I was surprised when my spouse asked me take a simple questionierre, and said that she thought perhaps I had ADHD. Working with special ed. HS students for 20+ years I thought it pretty unlikely that I could have ADHD and not even recognize it. But, surprise! I sure did meet a lot of the criteria, and it actully made me feel a LOT better to know there was an explanation for a lot of the issues I was dealing with throughout my life (not diagnosed until about age 58).

greg

[cityscape in reply to gphill56]

Thank you for your insight, Greg! I definitely identify with the idea that our symptoms are less obvious to us than to others (and especially trained professionals). For me, I've lost so much time that it honestly hurts, but this pain tends to fade quite quickly as the day-to-day wipes it from my working memory. Therefore, it can be hard for me to remember the impact of all my symptoms unless I'm right in the middle of them.