Psychological Assessment for ADHD

OVERVIEW

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex condition impacting the executive functions of the brain, meaning those functions that help us organize, focus, prioritize, stay motivated, control emotions and behavior, and a host of other tasks. 

ADHD is a developmental disorder, and as such, symptoms must have been present in childhood for criteria to be met for diagnosis. ADHD has pervasive consequences in all domains of life. Symptoms of ADHD can masquerade as other psychological conditions and vice versa, and it is often co-morbid with other conditions such as anxiety or mood disorders. Prescribing clinicians and other institutions frequently require high-quality, professional evaluation to support and document the diagnosis to proceed with treatment or to provide ADA accommodations. 

I provide a limited number of psychological assessments for ADHD and co-morbid conditions for adults, ages 18 and older (about one per month). Due to the high demand for these assessments, I am accepting patients under condition that they are referred by a current therapist, with whom they have developed the hypothesis that ADHD or a similar condition may be impacting their current level of functioning. 

TRAINING and EXPERIENCE

I led the ADHD assessment team and process for Portland State University for a number of years.  We facilitated the screening and administration of full in-depth neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD and learning disabilities, along with other comprehensive psychological assessment.  I also worked in private practice for many years with an assessment-based practice, providing similar assessments.  My pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Cornerstone Behavioral Health in Evanston, Wyoming, and Kaiser Permanente in Salem, Oregon, included a heavy focus on neuropsychological assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning.  

PROCESS and LIMITATIONS

These assessments will not provide diagnosis or evaluation for autism spectrum disorders or Learning Disorders. They will include a full evaluation of substance use history.  I do not use neuropsychological measures for ADHD, following the recommendation of leading expert Russell Barkley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVCDflvwkE8. Instead we focus on a sophisticated interview process, looking at the quality, context,  and origin of various symptoms. The entire assessment will be completed via telehealth. The client will need access to a device with a keyboard; not just a touch pad or handheld device.

These assessments take place over the course of two weeks. The steps include the following:

• The client's current therapist completes the online referral form, and scheduling is initiated if a referral is appropriate. 

• A telehealth assessment appointment is scheduled. The duration of that appointment will be approximately three hours. It will include symptom checklists and an in-depth interview.  

• I will write an in-depth report integrating the findings from the evaluation.

• A telehealth assessment feedback session, approximately one hour duration, two weeks after the initial evaluation, in which a finished report is provided to the client, and results and recommendations are provided. A copy of the report is provided to the referring clinician. 

COST and PAYMENT

The cost for the evaluation is $2300 and is billed out of pocket, due at the time of the first appointment. I can provide a superbill for submission to insurance. The total time to complete an assessment for the clinician is approximately ten hours.