See the FAQ section of the Effra Clinic website for more information.

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Elements of the assessment
 

1. Pre-assessment background questionnaires completed by you and someone who knows you well.
   
   These need to be completed before your psychiatric interview. This provides useful background information and screening for autism, ADHD and other mental health conditions. 
   
   Getting information from an informant who knew you in childhood and who knows you now is important. (You can ask more than one person to complete background forms).
   
   If you have had previous medical, educational psychology or mental health assessments and have reports relating to this, it would be useful to provide copies prior to your appointment which will be reviewed as part of your psychiatric assessment.
   
    

2. Pre-assessments [link to info sheet]
   
   a. ADOS
   
   This is an observational assessment completed with one of our neurodevelopmental specialists trained in its application. It is completed in person in our Wimpole Street clinic and takes approximately one hour.
   
   b. ADI-R
    

   This is an interview completed with someone who knew you well as a young child (usually but not always a parent). You do not need to be present for this interview, you provide the contact details and we will arrange this with your informant.
   
   It is completed with one of our neurodevelopmental specialists who has training on the completion of this structured diagnostic. This is done via phone or video call and can take up to 3 hours.
   
   Where an informant is not available, the assessment is completed without this element. 
   
   c. Cognitive screening computer task
   
   This takes about 30mins at home in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. It needs to be completed before your final appointment. You will be sent a link to log in to complete.
   
   This is not a diagnostic test but it provides useful objective information about strengths and weaknesses in your ability to concentrate, your reaction time and your impulsivity.
   
   d. DIVA 5.0 diagnostic interview
   
   This is either completed with one of our neurodevelopmental specialists or with your psychiatrist who have had training on the completion of this structured diagnostic tool. 
   
   You may want to have someone who knows you to accompany you to this appointment. 
   
   This is usually done via video call and usually takes 60-90mins. It is done as part of your psychiatric interview or as a separate appointment.
   
    

3. Psychiatric assessment
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   This is with your psychiatrist. 
   
   It usually takes 3-4 hours over two appointments. 
   
   The outcome of the diagnostic assessment will be discussed at the end of your final appointment. If further information or more time is needed to conclude the assessment, this would be discussed in this appointment. These appointments will focus on your background, consider any other mental health difficulties you may have and your current functioning as well as reviewing the results of your pre-assessment.  This is done via video call and in person in the Wimpole Street clinic (usually we ask that at least one of these appointments will be done in person).