A private London clinic integrating psychiatry and psychology
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Clinic
To get in touch or find out more about how we can help:
Our team are available
Monday–Thursday 8am–8pm
Friday 8am–6pm
If you would prefer to digest this information in the Bionic Reading format, please click here.
The Sloane Court Clinic is home to renowned psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with a wealth of experience and expertise in the assessment and treatment of adult individuals with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Adult ADHD Treatment in London
The Sloane Court Clinic offers a comprehensive diagnostic service and offers treatment for inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity as well as problems with organisation and planning where there is significant functional impairment. This applies to those who suspect they may have ADHD as well as those with an existing diagnosis.
In adults these symptoms frequently overlap with other disorders including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, substance misuse, bipolar disorder and personality or behavioural disorders; these can be evaluated if present. Educational and/or occupational problems are common. We also offer consultation and psycho-education about the diagnosis for the individual and/or their family and combined medical and psychological treatment of primary and secondary symptoms as recommended in the NICE guidelines.
ADHD in Adults
ADHD is a commonly accepted disorder in children though only more recently has it been recognised as a problem experienced by adults. This means that very often adults with ADHD have had problems since childhood and their difficulties in adulthood have not been properly recognised.
Adults with ADHD may feel that they have been blamed or held responsible for things over which they have had little control. For example, they may have been told that they were lazy in school, or that they were rude in social interactions. Therefore, adults with ADHD have possibly had to cope with the negative perceptions and reactions of others, in addition to their own difficulties.
What Causes ADHD in Adults?
ADHD is what doctors describe as a developmental disorder, which means that it is a problem that is present from childhood. The term developmental disorder does not indicate the cause of the problem, and often with problems that begin in childhood it is very difficult or impossible to know what caused them to happen. There may be a genetic component (i.e. the patient inherited it from their parents) or there may be other reasons, such as damage to the brain in early life.
What are the Symptoms of ADHD?
There are three core symptoms of ADHD that need to be present in order for the diagnosis to be given:
Inattention
Examples of this symptom would include having problems paying attention to work or study, problems sustaining attention, problems listening to others, starting, but not finishing tasks, jumping from one task to another, procrastinating, having problems organising yourself, being forgetful, being easily distracted.
Hyperactivity
Examples of this symptom would include fidgeting, feeling restless, being always on the go, talking excessively.
Impulsivity
Examples of this symptom would include finding that you interrupt others, finding it difficult to wait your turn, or starting things before you’ve made a plan.
Adult ADHD Assessment in London
One of our leading ADHD specialists will assess the presence of these symptoms during the patient’s initial diagnostic assessment. It is usually expected that these symptoms will have been present since childhood, before the age of seven. Not everyone with ADHD experiences all three symptoms to the same degree and some of them are more commonly found in children than in adults. The doctor will be able to tell the patient how the symptoms present in their specific case. A diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is made in those who show prominent inattentive symptoms.
Common Problems Experienced by Adults with ADHD
People who have experienced some combination of these core symptoms throughout life may find that they have developed other difficulties or psychological distresses as a consequence. For example, children who have ADHD may find it difficult to make and keep friends due to their behaviour, which can seem boisterous and aggressive to other children. This difficulty may continue into adult life – even though the boisterousness may diminish in adulthood, the young adult may have developed problems with social confidence or self-esteem, or have low expectations of friendships working out. Adults may have difficulty forming relationships with those with ADHD who may seem impulsive or impatient. Children who had problems in school due to ADHD may have performed poorly in academic tests and in adulthood feel they have failed to reach their potential.
The experience of these kinds of losses and failures can lead to feelings of depression and dissatisfaction with work or with the life they have. Adults who experience feelings of hyperactivity may find they are aggressive or agitated and may use or misuse drugs or alcohol to manage these feelings. These are some common examples of problems experienced by adults that are not core symptoms of ADHD, but which can be associated with the disorder.
Getting help for Adults with ADHD
There is help available for adults with ADHD and many people are finding that the treatments available can help them to move on with their lives and overcome many of the difficulties caused by the disorder. These treatments can include medication as well as psychological therapy. During the assessment, our specialists will be able to suggest treatment that will be most effective for the patient.
This service is available to those who are assessed and diagnosed within Sloane Court Clinic as well as those with an existing diagnosis with robust reports.
Medication as a Treatment for ADHD
There are several medications available that treat the core symptoms of ADHD. They are not described at length here, as it is very important that any discussion about medication is held on an individual basis with your doctor. Medical treatment of the core symptoms can help to reduce the feelings of restlessness, agitation, and impulsivity and help you to better concentrate, focus, organise and listen to others. Effective treatment of the core symptoms may in itself bring about a positive change in your life.
How Effective is Medication as a Treatment for ADHD?
Current research into the efficacy of medication for ADHD indicates that some people respond better than others. It does not work the same way for everyone and some people find that their symptoms improve, but don’t go away altogether. Others find that it doesn’t help significantly.
You may also wish to consider whether your ADHD has caused some of the associated problems described above, such as depression, problems in relationships, problems at work, or alcohol or drug use. These problems, if present, may have developed over a long period of time and might not be helped directly by the ADHD medication even if your core symptoms respond well.
The important message is that medication can help some people a great deal, but it might not be a ‘magic bullet’ that solves all of the problems caused by the disorder. It may therefore be necessary to also consider psychological therapy, which may be useful to help you cope and manage with both core symptoms and other associated problems.
Psychological therapy for Adults with ADHD
Psychological therapies for ADHD are relatively new. The approach being used at the Sloane Court Clinic is based on the Young-Bramham model of working, which draws in a variety of methods to help you manage the difficulties you experience in everyday life. The therapist may ask you to consider different things, such as how you think in situations and how you behave. They may ask you to describe how you go about everyday things that you find difficult and find ways to change your thinking, your behaviour, or the situation itself.
This can be very helpful to those who do not meet the clinical threshold for ADHD but experience some or many of its symptoms.
How effective is Psychological Therapy as a Treatment for ADHD?
The intention in psychological therapy is not to make the disorder disappear, but to help you to understand it, to become aware of how it affects your life, and to develop ways of managing it so that the negative impact on your life is reduced. The therapist may ask you to make a list of the most problematic things for you. They may help you to identify things you may wish to change in yourself, for example, to stop and think more, which might sound obvious, but they will also help you practice specific ways of doing that so that your good intention becomes something that you actually do. They may also help you to identify ways to change or organise the world around you to help you to better remember and plan things. The benefit of doing this might be that you find you are more able to complete tasks and feel good about your abilities instead of feeling weighed down and guilty about things started, but not finished.
You may find the psychological strategies helpful in your working life and personal life. You should find that you can take strategies learned in one situation and apply them to others so that you eventually become a therapist to yourself. The therapist may also work with you in reducing the impact of the associated problems such as depression, insomnia, or substance misuse if these things are getting in the way of your life. The key point for those considering psychological therapy is that it can be very effective and very rewarding, but will require dedication, commitment and effort from you.
How Often are Psychological Therapy Sessions Recommended for Adults with ADHD?
It depends greatly on your ability and willingness to work with the therapist and try things out. The number of sessions will vary and may depend on how quickly and how well you are able to apply the psychological strategies to your own life, so it is difficult to predict the number of sessions required. We would recommend having regular review sessions to monitor your progress and to ensure that the therapy is helpful for you. Your therapist will realize that often people with ADHD have difficulty with things such as focus, regular attendance and commitment, and will discuss and help you with those, so don’t worry too much about that. You don’t have to be perfect or an expert, but you do have to want to do it.
Further FAQs about the ADHD Service can be found here.
Make an Appointment
Referrals may be made by general practitioners, consultant psychiatrists, by letter, email, our Contact Form, or by calling us on 020 7730 5945, requesting the “ADHD Clinic”.
Patients are requested to seek referral through their GP, or consultant.
Contact and Appointments for Adult ADHD Assessment and Treatment
Referrals may be made by general practitioners, consultant psychiatrists, by letter, email, our Contact Form, or by calling us on 020 7730 5945, requesting the “ADHD Clinic”.
Patients are requested to seek referral through their GP, or consultant.
Fees
A full breakdown of Fees and Services can be found here.
Insurers tend to cover both the assessment and follow up appointments but it is worth contacting your insurer directly if you are unsure, as individual policies may differ in their coverage.
Prescriptions are usually administered within a session but if an out of session prescription is required for any reason, the fee is £25. Please note that as we are a private service, medication costs from your pharmacy would be in addition to the prescription costs listed here.
At present, AXA are not covering the funding for our ADHD assessments. Therefore, if you are ensured with AXA, assessments will have to be self-funded.
Services
- Assessment and diagnosis – a comprehensive assessment based on structured interviewing, rating scales and observational data
- Continuation of care for pre-existing ADHD diagnosis*
- Medication titration services*
- Neuropsychological assessment
- Psychological interventions
- Guidance on medication management
- Advice on behavioural adjustment
- Psycho-education about ADHD
- Advice on psychological management methods
- Advice on medication side-effects
- Delineation of ADHD from other causes of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity
- Advice and treatment of associated risk behaviour
- Advice to general consultants or GP’s on ongoing treatment of ADHD
- Advice to spouses, parents and carers
- Second opinions
*Please note: If you already have a pre-existing diagnosis of ADHD and would like to enquire about starting or continuing treatment with us, you will be asked to send through documentation confirming your diagnosis and previous/current treatment (if applicable).
Unfortunately we will be unable to continue or start treatment for ADHD unless we have received the appropriate documentation confirming your diagnosis.
Adult ADHD Specialists in London
The ADHD Clinic is led by Dr Burman-Roy, consultant psychiatrist, in conjunction with Dr Bonoldi, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Marshall, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Sin Fai Lam, consultant psychiatrist, and Dr Jalmbrant, clinical psychologist.
Dr. Burman-Roy previously worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He has experience working in the national ADHD service at the Maudsley Hospital, and has been involved in the development and delivery of Mentalisation-Based Therapy training groups for community mental health team staff.
Dr. Bonoldi is a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, and an honorary Clinical Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) London. Dr Bonoldi works alongside Dr Burman-Roy in the assessment and on-going management of Adult ADHD.
Dr. Marshall is a consultant psychiatrist at the South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust. She works alongside the rest of the team in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ADHD.
Dr. Sin Fai Lam is a consultant liaison psychiatrist at King’s College Hospital, and works alongside Dr Burman-Roy and Dr Bonoldi to assist with the ongoing management and medication review of those diagnosed with ADHD.
Dr. Jalmbrant runs a busy adult psychology service for Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD. She has extensive clinical experience in managing ADHD with psychological methods.
Dr. Ciufolini is a consultant psychiatrist working in an acute female inpatient ward at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), and an honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. He works with the team to assist with the ongoing management and medication review of those diagnosed with ADHD.
Dr. Bindman is a Neuropsychiatrist based in London, with over 10 years of experience in diagnosing and treating complex neurological and psychiatric disorders. Specialising in the intricate relationship between the mind and brain, she has a particular focus on mood and anxiety disorders in people with neurological disorders such as Epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD and Functional Neurological Disorder.
Dr. Gee is the acting deputy director of pharmacy and consultant pharmacist for psychiatric liaison at South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She is recognised internationally as a leading authority in the clinical use of psychiatric medicines, and is a contributing author to the world-renowned Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines.
Mrs. Roberts is a clinical psychologist with a wealth of experience in helping clients manage symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD within the remit of Neurodivergent Psychology.
Dr. Bhathika Perera is a consultant psychiatrist working in North East London NHS Foundation Trust, and an Associate Professor at Division of Psychiatry in University College London. His area of specialisms are Intellectual Disability and Adult ADHD.
Dr Isabel McMullen is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry at King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and the Clinical Director for the Acute and Urgent Care Programme at the South London Mental Health Partnership. Dr McMullen works with the team in the assessment and on-going management of Adult ADHD.
Treatment
Medical management and titration | monitoring of blood pressure and weight | psychological treatment for ADHD | continuation of care for diagnosed ADHD | psychological treatment for secondary symptoms such as emotional problems | treatment of conditions found to be simulating ADHD such as depression | implementation and maintenance of medication treatment.
Staff
The ADHD Clinic is led by Dr Burman-Roy, consultant psychiatrist, in conjunction with Dr Bondoli, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Sin Fai Lam, consultant psychiatrist and Dr Maria Jalmbrant, clinical psychologist.
Dr Soumitra Burman-Roy
Dr Ilaria Bonoldi
Dr Chun Chiang Sin Fai Lam
Dr Caryl Marshall
Dr Dorothea Bindman
Dr Simone Ciufolini
Dr Maria Jalmbrant
Mrs Jessica Roberts
Dr Siobhan Gee
Dr Bhathika Perera
Dr Isabel McMullen
Contact and Appointments
If you are seeking an appointment with a psychiatrist, you should discuss this first with your GP to obtain a referral. Referrals are also accepted from clinical psychologists and counsellors.
Once you have your referral, please do contact us via our Enquiry Form and one of our team will be in touch without delay.
Overseas referrals are warmly welcomed. We do also see individuals without a family doctor (GP), and we can help you find a private or NHS family doctor.