Information for referrers

Referring a patient

1. 1

   Referral letter through ZorgDomein

   Send regular referrals through ZorgDomein, the secure referral system used in Dutch healthcare, wherever possible. That way we can review them quickly and carefully. Include your patient's symptoms, history, previous help and medication.
2. 2

   We review the referral

   One of our practitioners checks whether the request for help fits what we offer. If information is missing, we request it from you.
3. 3

   We contact your patient

   Your patient is notified by email and is placed on the waiting list. When it is their turn, we contact them ourselves to schedule the intake.

What we would like to receive

• The relevant (psychiatric) history.
• Current medication and any substance use.
• Recent blood pressure and heart rate measurements.
• An assessment of the cardiovascular risk profile.
• Any previous psychiatric diagnostics and treatment reports.

Referring without ZorgDomein

• Name, address, place of residence, date of birth and citizen service number (BSN) of the client.
• Name, address, place of residence, position and AGB code (Dutch healthcare provider code) of the referrer.
• A clear description of the request for help and the symptoms.
• The relevant (psychiatric) history.
• Current medication and any substance use.

Inclusion criteria

• The patient is 18 years of age or older.
• The patient has a permanent residence in the Netherlands and valid health insurance.
• There are primary symptoms consistent with ADHD, such as persistent problems with attention and concentration, hyperactivity or impulsivity, that can be traced back to childhood.
• The patient has a sufficient command of Dutch or English for diagnostics and treatment.
• There is a clear request for help and motivation for both assessment and treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• An active substance addiction without sufficient stability. Treatment with us is only possible after stabilisation, following a course of treatment in addiction care.
• A current other primary psychiatric disorder that largely determines or better explains the symptoms and for which other specialised mental health care is needed, such as a psychotic disorder, mood disorder, personality disorder or autism spectrum disorder.
• A high risk of suicidality or a high vulnerability to crises, where acute or intensive crisis care is needed.
• Severe cognitive or intellectual disabilities, which make regular ADHD diagnostics and treatment unsuitable or unfeasible.
• A request for broad psychiatric diagnostics into several possible conditions.

The diagnostic pathway

1. 1

   Diagnostic interview (DIVA-5)

   Psychologist

   An extensive structured interview using the DIVA-5, based on the DSM-5 criteria. Because ADHD is a developmental disorder, we also look specifically at symptoms in childhood, before the age of twelve. Where possible, we gather information from a parent or someone else close to the patient who has known them since childhood.
2. 2

   Medical intake

   Physician or nurse specialist

   In addition to the ADHD symptoms, we look more broadly at somatic and psychiatric comorbidity and ask about various areas of life. Where necessary, additional psychiatric assessment follows.
3. 3

   Multidisciplinary meeting

   The treatment team

   Different disciplines jointly assess whether the criteria for ADHD are met and whether other psychiatric or somatic conditions (partly) explain the symptoms.
4. 4

   Advice consultation

   Physician and psychiatrist

   The physician and psychiatrist discuss the findings and the conclusion with your patient. In case of ADHD, they explain what the treatment involves.

What you receive from us

• After the diagnostics

  Outcome and advice

  After the advice consultation, and with your patient's consent, we inform you in an intake letter of the outcome, the follow-up we advise and the advice we have given.

• No ADHD

  Referral back with a report

  We refer your patient back to you with a clear written report of our findings and recommendations.

• At completion

  Discharge letter

  With the diagnosis, the course of treatment, the medication that has been set up and the advice for follow-up, so that you can take over the repeat prescriptions in consultation.

• After completion

  Six months back without a referral

  In case of relapse within six months, we reopen the treatment without a new referral. After that, a new referral is needed.

Care outside what we offer

What we offer

Contact for referrers