GP Centred ADHD Diagnosis & Management
ADHD Diagnosis & Management with Your GP – Patient FAQ
(Queensland Residents Only: Available from 1 December 2025)
Our clinic is pleased to offer GP-centred ADHD assessment and ongoing management under the recent Queensland law changes effective 1/12/25. Our service is designed to be comprehensive to, safe, and evidence-based, with a strong focus on whole-patient care.
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about the process.
What does the new Queensland legislation mean for patients?
From 1 December 2025, specially credentialed GPs in Queensland can conduct ADHD assessments and, where clinically appropriate, provide ongoing management. This includes the ability to prescribe ADHD medications within regulatory guidelines.
Our clinic meets the requirements to provide this service, following accepted national clinical standards.
What does the ADHD assessment process look like?
Our ADHD assessment involves two appointments and several steps to ensure a safe, accurate, and holistic evaluation.
Before your first appointment: Intake questionnaires
You will receive a set of questionnaires to complete online. These help us understand:
Your current symptoms
Your personal and family medical history
Any past psychological or psychiatric diagnoses
How your difficulties affect daily life (work, study, relationships)
Appointment 1: In-person assessment (60 minutes)
Your first consultation includes:
A detailed clinical interview
Review of your intake questionnaires
Screening for:
Comorbid mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression)
This appointment focuses on gathering a complete picture of your health and determining whether ADHD is a possibility or whether other conditions may better explain your symptoms.
If further discussion is required to explore your symptoms in more detail, Dr Maxwell may recommend a second 1-hour appointment. This follow-up can be conducted in person or via telehealth and will be bulk billed.
Between appointments
Dr Maxwell may request:
Additional questionnaire data
School or work reports (if available)
Past psychological assessments
Permission to communicate with other health providers, if relevant
Appointment 2: In-person diagnostic clarification & management planning (30–45 minutes)
During the second consultation, we will:
Review all collected information
A cardiovascular risk assessment (blood pressure, pulse, cardiac history, and an ECG)
Provide a clear explanation of findings
Talk through management options, which may include lifestyle strategies, psychological supports, or medication (if appropriate and safe)
A diagnosis is often not able to be made after a single visit. Two consultations are required before any determination can be made.
Does completing the assessment guarantee an ADHD diagnosis?
No.
Our clinic takes a whole-patient, evidence-based approach. Some symptoms that look like ADHD can be caused by other medical or mental health conditions, stress, sleep issues, or substance use.
If ADHD is not the best explanation for your symptoms, we will provide guidance on the most appropriate next steps.
Why is cardiovascular screening part of the assessment?
ADHD medications—particularly stimulants—can affect the heart and blood pressure. For your safety, we screen for:
High blood pressure
Heart rhythm concerns
Personal or family history of cardiovascular disease
In some cases, we may request further cardiac testing or specialist input before considering medication.
What if I have other mental health conditions?
Conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma-related concerns are common and may overlap with ADHD symptoms.
Part of the assessment process involves identifying whether:
These conditions are contributing to your symptoms
They need treatment before ADHD can be confidently diagnosed
They may change the treatment approach
We will discuss the best pathway forward based on your individual needs.
SEE SECTION ON ADHD GP-LED CARE SUITABILITY FOR MORE INFORMATION
What if I currently use alcohol or other substances?
For safety and accuracy, we must rule out:
Substance misuse
Substance-induced symptoms that may mimic ADHD
Risks that could affect medication decisions
This does not exclude you from care. If substance concerns are identified, we will work with you to create an appropriate support and treatment plan.
SEE SECTION ON ADHD GP-LED CARE SUITABILITY FOR MORE INFORMATION
If I am diagnosed, what does management involve?
Management is personalised and may include:
Education on ADHD and how it affects daily life
Practical strategies for organisation, focus, and planning
Psychological or behavioural therapy referrals
Medication options (only when safe, indicated, and compliant with regulations)
Regular follow-up to monitor symptoms, side effects, and progression.
Can I continue long-term care with my regular GP?
Yes. Under the new legislation, eligible GPs can provide ongoing ADHD management, including prescribing within regulatory limits.
A letter will be provided to your regular GP once treatment plan has been commenced containing the results of your assessment. Based on your providers experience and your preference they may elect to take over regular prescribing.
Your care may be shared with psychologists, psychiatrists, or other specialists depending on your needs.
How do I get started?
You can book an ADHD assessment online. Before your appointment we will….
Confirm your eligibility
Schedule your 60-minute initial assessment
Send you the intake questionnaires
Provide information about what to bring and how to prepare.
Have an Established Adult ADHD Diagnosis?
This service is for adults seeking ongoing medical management of ADHD, either following a prior diagnosis or as part of a structured pathway to formalise an existing assessment.
Initial Appointment (40 minutes)
The initial consultation is a 40-minute medical appointment focused on confirming diagnostic information, assessing medical suitability for treatment, and planning safe ongoing care.
Before your appointment, documentation is required (either of the below)
Psychiatrist or Paediatrician diagnosis: A formal letter confirming a diagnosis of ADHD.
Clinical Psychologist diagnosis: A full diagnostic report from a registered clinical psychologist, including:
Diagnostic formulation
Psychometric testing results
Clinical reasoning
(A brief summary letter alone is not sufficient.)
If a psychologist has made the diagnosis, this may still require medical formalisation before treatment can be prescribed. This can usually be completed within the established ADHD care pathway, but an additional appointment may be required, depending on the information provided and clinical findings.
Follow-up (if required)
If further clarification or medical assessment is needed, a short follow-up appointment (up to 20 minutes) may be booked to complete the assessment before treatment decisions are made.
Ongoing ADHD Care
Once care is established, management typically includes:
Individualised medication trials where appropriate
Regular monitoring of response, side effects, and safety
Standard medication reviews, with six-monthly reviews once stable
All care is delivered within an evidence-based, medically safe framework and in accordance with prescribing and regulatory requirements
GP-Led ADHD Care & High-Risk Patients
SEE SECTION ON ADHD GP-LED CARE SUITABILITY FOR MORE INFORMATION
GP-led assessment and management is an effective and accessible option for many adults with suspected ADHD. However, it is only appropriate for low-risk patients. Some individuals have medical or psychiatric risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of complications with ADHD medications or require specialist diagnostic input.
These risk factors are sometimes clear in the pre-assessment history, but in many cases they only become evident after completing the initial screening assessment. When this occurs, continuing within a GP-led model is not the safest option. My role is to identify these risks early and guide you along the safest and most efficient pathway.
When GP-Led Care Is Not Suitable
If your assessment identifies features that suggest bipolar spectrum illness, psychosis risk, significant cardiovascular disease, complex trauma presentations, substance-related risks, or other factors that require specialist input, you will be advised to transition to a psychiatrist-led pathway.
This isn’t a barrier to care—it simply ensures treatment is safe, evidence-based, and compliant with prescribing regulations.
Your Pathway Options if Risk Factors Are Identified
1. Referral for a Psychiatrist 291 Assessment
You may proceed with a psychiatric opinion under a Medicare Item 291 (Complex Psychiatric Assessment) which I can arrange following our initial assessment.
Typical fees for psychiatrist service: $683.40, with an approximate Medicare rebate of $455.60, giving an out-of-pocket cost of roughly $227.80.
After the psychiatrist completes the risk assessment and provides recommendations, I can take over your ongoing care if it is clinically appropriate and safe.
This pathway provides you with:
A formal specialist review
A clear risk assessment
A documented treatment plan
Ongoing GP care once cleared
2. Referral Through Your Regular GP
You may prefer to see your usual GP to arrange a psychiatrist referral for both the full diagnostic assessment and the risk review. If you decide on this pathway before attending your appointment with me, your appointment fee will be fully refunded, with no penalty and no questions asked.
This option may suit you if:
You would rather consolidate all care with your usual GP
You prefer a psychiatrist-led assessment from the start
You want a single-provider pathway for diagnosis and prescribing clearance
My Commitment
My goal is to ensure safe, ethical, and transparent ADHD care. Whether you proceed within a GP-led model or require specialist involvement, you’ll be guided through a clear pathway so you understand your options, your costs, and exactly what comes next.
Use of AI-Assisted Transcription in ADHD Assessments
Our ADHD assessments involve detailed history-taking, structured diagnostic criteria, and careful documentation. To support this, we use secure AI-assisted transcription during consultations to help accurately capture information in real time.
When AI transcription is used, this allows us to:
Reduce total assessment time from approximately 2–3 hours to around 1 hour
Spend more time focused on you, rather than manual note-taking
Complete assessments more efficiently while maintaining accuracy and clinical quality
Participation is optional. If you prefer not to use AI-assisted transcription, your assessment can still proceed. However, without transcription support:
More time is required for manual documentation
The assessment may need to be completed over additional or longer consultations
This may result in additional appointment fees, depending on the number of visits required to complete the assessment safely and thoroughly
Regardless of whether AI transcription is used, all care remains GP-led, evidence-based, confidential, and compliant with Australian privacy standards. Your preference can be discussed at any time prior to or during your appointment.