Your assessment
A clear process.
No surprises.
Nothing to fear.
We've designed every part of the assessment to feel straightforward and human. Here's exactly what happens, from the moment you book to the moment your report arrives.
How it works
Three steps to a clear answer.
Designed to feel simple from the very first click.
01
Book and prepare
Choose a time that works for you. No referral, no waiting list. Once booked, you'll receive a short pre-assessment questionnaire to complete before your appointment, in your own time. It covers your history, your current experiences, and the things that have led you here. There are no right or wrong answers.
- No GP referral needed: book directly online
- Pre-assessment questionnaire completed at your own pace
- Your answers help your psychiatrist prepare, but don't determine the outcome
- Where available, we also welcome an informant questionnaire from a family member or someone who knows you well (this can strengthen the clinical picture, though it is not required)
02
Your assessment
A 60–90 minute conversation with a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist, via secure video call. This is a professional clinical assessment, not an interview you can pass or fail. Your psychiatrist will guide you through it. You don't need to prepare anything or prove anything. Just show up and be honest.
- Conducted using DSM-5 criteria and validated clinical tools
- Covers childhood history, current symptoms, and their impact on daily life
- No physical examination required
- Your psychiatrist will share their initial thoughts with you at the end of the session
03
Your report
Within 7 days of your assessment, you'll receive a comprehensive written report prepared by your consultant psychiatrist. This is a full clinical document, not a summary or a score. It sets out the clinical findings, the diagnostic conclusion, and the reasoning behind it.
- Full diagnostic conclusion with clinical reasoning
- DSM-5 criteria met or not met, clearly documented
- Letter to your GP summarising the findings
- Supporting letters for your employer or university available on request
Your appointment
A conversation, not a test.
One of the most common worries people have is that they'll say something wrong, or that they won't seem "ADHD enough." Your psychiatrist isn't looking for a particular performance. They're conducting a structured clinical assessment, and there's no way to fake your way in or talk your way out. Just be honest about your experience.
What the assessment covers
- Structured clinical interview using the DIVA-5 interview protocol (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults)
- Validated symptom rating scales following DSM-5 criteria
- Childhood history and developmental context
- Current symptoms and how they affect your day-to-day life
- Impact on work, relationships, and daily functioning
- Consideration of the full clinical picture, including any overlapping conditions
- Initial findings shared with you at the end of the session
You don't need to
- Get a GP referral first
- Travel to a clinic or hospital
- Prepare notes or a presentation
- Have a prior diagnosis or existing treatment
- Convince your psychiatrist of anything
- Undergo any physical examination
Your report
A document that works for you.
Your report is a full clinical document prepared by your consultant psychiatrist, not a summary, not a score sheet. It arrives within 7 days and belongs entirely to you. Share it with whoever you choose, or keep it private. See a full breakdown of what the report includes.
Workplace
Supporting letters for your employer
We can provide a supporting letter for your employer or HR team on request, suitable for discussing reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
How to share your diagnosis with your employer →Education
University and DSA support
We can provide a supporting letter for your university or Disabled Students' Allowance application on request.
Your GP
Letter to your GP
Every report includes a letter addressed to your GP summarising the clinical findings. Your GP can use this to inform any next steps they consider appropriate.
DVLA
DVLA disclosure
If you receive an ADHD diagnosis, you may need to notify the DVLA. Your report provides the clinical documentation needed to support that disclosure.
After your assessment
What happens next is yours to decide.
Your report belongs to you. There is no obligation to act on it in any particular way. Some people share it with their GP straight away. Others take time to sit with the findings first. Both are completely fine.
If you receive a diagnosis, your GP is your next point of contact for any further support or treatment. Your Distinct report gives them everything they need to understand the clinical picture. What they do with it is a conversation between you and them. Distinct is a diagnostic service only — we do not prescribe or manage medication.
Whether or not you receive a diagnosis, a thorough clinical assessment has value in itself. A clear answer, in either direction, is more useful than years of uncertainty.
Whatever your outcome, we can point you toward ADHD coaching, peer support networks, and professional resources, so you're never left wondering what to do next.