Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Service

We operate two separate treatment pathways, one offering medication and one offering non-pharmacological interventions.

The medication pathway is staffed by a combination of psychiatrists and mental health nurses, and the non-pharmacological pathway is staffed by occupational therapists.

Medication

Many people with ADHD find medication helpful. Treatment usually consists of a tablet taken once daily.

Finding the right dose for you can take several appointments and requires supervision.

Prior to starting medication, you will be asked a series of questions about your physical and mental health to ensure that medication is safe for you. We require your blood pressure and pulse to be checked before each dose change.

Once your medication is at a stable dose, we will ask your GP to continue prescribing. This is done according to a ‘shared care agreement’. Although your GP will prescribe your medication and conduct physical health monitoring you will remain a patient with the service and can contact us should you have any ADHD related concerns.

We conduct a review of your need for treatment once a year. This is done via a form that we send out by post. If necessary, we may need to see you for a formal appointment. It is important that you engage with this process to ensure that your GP can continue prescribing your medication.

Annual Medication Review Process

Those prescribed ADHD medication should be offered a medication review annually with their specialist ADHD service.

Why is an annual medication review necessary?

An annual review ensures that medication remains appropriate and flags up any issues with treatment that need further review.

If you do not have an annual medication review, then your care is in breach of national guidelines. This may result in your GP being unable to continue prescribing your medication under the shared care agreement.

How does this work in the Leeds Adult ADHD Service?

You will be sent a letter asking you to complete a short form.

Not another form!?!

We have tried to make this as straight forward as possible. It is a one-page, 5-question, tick-box form. If there are no issues with your medication, no side-effects and it is working well, then it only involves ticking 5 boxes. If there are any issues with your medication, there is a free text box for you to inform us of your concerns. If you do have any issues completing the form, please contact the service for assistance.

Once completed, you can return the form either by email (having taken a clear picture of the form on your phone) or by post.

You will be given a deadline to complete the form in the letter sent to you. This is to help you return the form in time to comply with the annual review guidance. It is important you complete the form as annual reviews are compulsory and failure to do so will result in your prescriptions being stopped and ultimately your discharge from the ADHD service.

What happens after the form is returned?

The returned form is reviewed by a clinician. If there are no reported issues that require you to be seen in clinic, a letter is sent to you and your GP to inform your GP that the annual review is complete and ask them to continue to prescribe your medication under shared care guidelines. We will only contact you again once you require your next annual medication review.

If the clinician decides you need to be seen in clinic, you will be contacted in due course to be offered an appointment with a prescribing clinician to review your medication.