Conditions we see
ADHD and anxiety often turn up together in adults, and they can look alike. Our adult ADHD assessment checks for anxiety and other explanations as part of the process, so the outcome and the plan take both into account.
In plain words
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affects attention, activity levels and impulse control. In adults it is diagnosed through clinical interviews and assessment, and the symptoms need to have started in childhood.
It is common for adults with ADHD to have anxiety as well. The two can be hard to tell apart, because restlessness, poor concentration and trouble sleeping can come from either one, or from both.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Source: Healthdirect: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
When to ask
If you are wondering about ADHD and you also live with anxiety, it helps to have both assessed at the same time, because each can change how the other shows up. That is worth raising with your GP when one of these fits.
What we add
The hard part is working out which symptoms belong to which condition, because poor focus, restlessness and broken sleep can come from either one.
Related services: Adult ADHD assessments, Anxiety
Your first appointment
We send screening forms before the assessment, and filling them in ahead of time makes the appointments go further. Because ADHD starts in childhood, school reports or notes from teachers are useful if you still have them, and if a parent, sibling or someone who knew you well as a child can answer a few questions, that helps too.
For the anxiety side, jot down when the worry started, whether it comes in waves or is always there, and anything you have already tried for it. Bring a list of your current medicines as well.
Referral and scope
For an ADHD assessment, your GP needs to include current investigations (bloods, an ECG and a urine drug screen) with the referral and let us know whether they will continue prescribing once you are stable.
Your GP will find the steps on how to refer. To check we're the right fit, send a short enquiry and leave clinical details out.
We only assess adults aged 17 and over, and we don’t take NDIS-related referrals. Everything we see and don't see is listed on our page for referrers.
Outcome Health Psychiatry & Mental Health Services is a private service and is not a crisis service. If you need help now, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Fees
The full ADHD assessment is charged across multiple appointments and includes a medication review before handover to your GP. If your GP mainly wants a specialist view on anxiety alone, our anxiety page sets out the one-off assessment.
Medicare rebates are estimates only and depend on referral type, eligibility, consultation duration, the item actually billed and the psychiatrist’s clinical judgement. The Medicare Safety Net, DVA arrangements, third-party funding, payment processing fees and cancellation fees are not included in the gap estimates.
Payment is required in advance for all appointments. The full schedule, including every item, is on our fees and FAQ page.
Questions
Yes, it can. Anxiety can affect concentration, sleep and restlessness, which overlap with ADHD. That is why the assessment looks at your history back to childhood and checks for anxiety, mood, trauma and other explanations.
It depends on you. The psychiatrist looks at how each condition is affecting you and sets out the order and the plan in writing, and your GP receives a copy.
If anything in your bloods, ECG or urine drug screen is abnormal, your GP manages that first, before the assessment.
A full adult ADHD assessment (item A5) is $1,750 across multiple appointments. With a current referral, the estimated out-of-pocket cost is $1,025–$1,313 after Medicare rebates. Rebates are estimates and payment is required in advance.
Resources
For patients · June 2026
If you have been wondering whether ADHD might be part of the picture, this is for you. A plain-language guide to the signs that genuinely warrant a closer look, the ones that don't, and how to decide whether an assessment is the right next step.
Conditions we treat · June 2026
Most adults who experience one will experience the other. Here is a plain-language look at what your GP can manage, what changes when a psychiatrist is involved, and how to know when it is worth asking for a referral.
Conditions we treat · June 2026
Starting ADHD medication can feel like a big step. Here is what to expect from the process: how titration works, what your psychiatrist will check, and the questions worth bringing to your first appointment.
