Developing integrated mental health services for adults with ADHD

Abstract

The article discusses the issues and challenges for mental health services in providing care for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Based on work developed in Sheffield (UK), it describes the contribution that services integrated into community mental health teams may be able to provide. Given the likely increase in numbers of referrals of adults with ADHD (both 'graduates' from children's services and adults seeking diagnosis) and the pressures on resources, it is unlikely that current specialist services will be able to address the growing demand. A local service that can link with other mental health services and that has close links to primary care is most likely to provide a sustainable service model, but there are still considerable training needs for this model to be put into practice.