Assessment & Diagnostic Process

emmeco ADHD

Assessment & Diagnostic Process

We strive to offer a best-practice approach that is not only tailored to your unique needs but is also marked by its responsiveness and timeliness.

Our approach is to obtain a comprehensive cognitive profile before considering medication options. Ongoing psychology therapy as part of a multimodal approach is an expectation if planning to commence medication.

This approach improves outcomes as medication will only address some core symptoms of ADHD and not others.

Assessments at emmeco

At emmeco, we have a number of exceptional and experienced clinical psychologists and clinical neuropsychologists who provide Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessments for ADHD and ASD. Our clinicians can provide:

Clinical Psychological Assessment

ADHD
ASD
Combined ADHD/ASD

Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment

ADHD
ASD
Combined ADHD/ASD

For more information about our Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessments, availability with our psychologists, and fees, please send an email to admin@emmeco.com.au.

Psychiatry

Dr Oreste Theodoratos

Medication for ADHD

At emmeco, your comprehensive psychology report is a foundation of your consultation with Dr Theodoratos so that a broad understanding of your current symptoms can be developed.

A structured general assessment identifies co-occurring conditions that may require individual treatment and it is also necessary to assess for medical risks of potential ADHD medication.

Referral to other specialists may be required before medication can commence if medical issues are identified that may limit use of psychiatric medications.

Safety requirements

Psychiatry and medication appointments are only available once a comprehensive psychology report is available and a safety screen has been passed.

Patient Safety Factors: No safety risks or vulnerability factors have been identified that would increase health risks associated with medication.
Pre medication clearance: this is individualised, however, minimal requirements include a urine drug screen, electrocardiogram +/- echocardiogram, health assessment with your GP (blood pressure, blood tests) for all patients
Shared Care: Your general practitioner will monitor your physical health needs and participate in shared care, including prescribing of medication when appropriate. We request you commence discussing this option with your GP as your medication is being stabilised

Patient Safety Factors

When considering treatment for ADHD with stimulant medication, it's vital to recognise that these medications are classified as controlled substances.

While our goal is effective ADHD management, ensuring safety is paramount. The following factors are considered as vulnerability risks to stimulant medication treatment and appointments cannot be offered at this clinic with a current or past diagnosis of:

Recent psychiatric emergency or inpatient care
Psychosis or schizophrenia
Anorexia and eating disorders (except binge eating disorder)
ASD level 3
Brain injury
Substance Use Disorders
Alcohol dependence
Medicinal Cannabis Use
Significant opiate use
Medical conditions that may be compromised by ADHD treatment

We do assess and treat ADHD if patients have symptoms of anxiety, depression, ASD level 1 or 2 and binge eating disorder as these are often associated with ADHD.

To prioritise safety with treatment, we implement the following measures:

Urine Drug Screen (must be negative)
Medication monitoring through QScript, Queensland Government's prescription monitoring system

Referrals

Dr Theodoratos has limited availability for consultations. He requires a full psychology assessment (to our standard) as part of the diagnostic pathway. For all initial enquiries:

A comprehensive GP referral
Any past documentation regarding psychiatric history or ADHD diagnosis should be included.
You have read our policies and have an understanding of associated fees, assessment and management steps and are agreeable to proceed.

Referrals are reviewed in line with our policies regarding safe practice. This includes a search of the QScript prescription monitoring service.

We will contact you to assist and navigate this process.

Once this information has been processed your referring GP will be promptly notified.

Please note: A response may not be available until at least 14 days from the time of submission. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any specific concerns, please consider contacting the office directly.

Psychology

Clinical Psychology Team

Why Psychology?

Why psychology assessment and treatment are essential for ADHD:

Provisional Diagnosis: A psychologist arrives at a diagnosis after assessment by gathering information through interviews, observations, psychological testing, and collateral sources. They then apply diagnostic criteria from manuals to determine if the individual's symptoms meet the criteria for a specific psychological disorder, using their clinical judgment to integrate all information gathered.

Understanding Your Unique Needs: Psychology assessments dive deep into understanding your individual challenges, strengths, and behaviours. This comprehensive understanding helps tailor treatment specifically to your needs, ensuring it's effective and personalised.

Uncovering Coexisting Conditions ADHD often coexists with other mental health issues like anxiety or depression. A psychology assessment can identify these additional challenges, allowing to advise if further assessments may be required.

Developing Coping Strategies Psychologists specialise in teaching coping strategies and skills to manage ADHD symptoms effectively. Through therapy sessions, you'll learn techniques to improve focus, organization, time management, and emotional regulation, empowering you to navigate daily life more successfully.

Addressing Emotional & Behavioural Challenges ADHD can impact various aspects of your life, including relationships, work, and self-esteem. Psychology treatment provides a safe space to explore and address emotional and behavioural challenges associated with ADHD, fostering growth, resilience, and self-awareness.

Enhancing Functioning and Quality of Life The ultimate goal of psychology treatment is to improve your overall functioning and quality of life. By addressing ADHD symptoms and related difficulties, you'll be better equipped to reach your personal, academic, and professional goals, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

Overall, psychology assessment and treatment are crucial components of ADHD management, offering personalised support, skill-building, and strategies to help you thrive despite the challenges posed by ADHD.

Where Do I Start?

Our Clinical Psychology Team offers a range of services tailored to assess for diagnosis, offer guidance and resources, and provide therapy for individuals inquiring about ADHD. In addition, our neuropsychologist extends assessment services to those with neurodiverse inquiries beyond ADHD. For more details, please inquire within.

To initiate inquiries with our psychology team, a GP Referral is necessary. Once submitted to your preferred psychologist, they will carefully assess your treatment needs.

Our reception team will then promptly notify you of the outcome and provide information on the latest availability.

What To Expect

Once your preferred psychologist or neuropsychologist has reviewed your GP referral and determined your assessment or therapeutic needs, the standard pathways are outlined as follows:

Assessments

Initial Assessment Appointment This comprehensive session may take up to 5 hours, tailored to individual assessment needs.
Significant Other or Family Member Interview Your psychologist may require additional collateral information, and you will be notified if this is necessary.
Feedback Session A session lasting approximately 50 minutes or more will be scheduled to discuss the overall report, assessment outcomes, and recommended follow-up advice and treatment.
Report Received Following the feedback session, you will receive a finalised report containing assessment information and diagnosis.

Please note that individual assessment journeys may vary based on the specific needs of each individual.

ADHD Therapy

The psychologist will inform you when an appointment becomes available within a timely manner. All therapy appointments are typically scheduled for 50 minutes, though duration may vary depending on individual needs and the psychologist's availability.

Check Out Our Clinical Team

Contact Us

Wesley Specialist Centre
Level 2, Suite 7,
87 Lang Parade
AUCHENFLOWER QLD 4006

07 3193 3381

admin@emmeco.com.au

Reception Hours

8.30am - 4.00pm | Monday-Thursday

Please note: practice is closed Fridays, weekends & public holidays

Emergency Care & After Hours Information

This practice does not have the capacity to offer emergency care

or crisis counselling.

In the event of an emergency please phone 000.

Additional Support Contacts:

1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255) a confidential mental health telephone triage service for Queenslanders
Mental Health Crisis Line (1800 011 511)
Lifeline (13 11 14)
Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)
Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)