I have attention difficulties. What do I need to know?

Many students struggle with attention and concentration during their academic careers. In part due to the increased media attention devoted to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), many students conclude that they have ADHD. It’s important to know that most students with attention and concentration deficits do not have ADHD.  

Many other conditions can impact attention and concentration, including depression, anxiety, substance use, PTSD, sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, and learning disorders, as well as poor study habits, time management, and/or organizational skills. In such cases, treatment of the underlying cause(s) is the best way to improve concentration and attention. This may include psychotherapy, medication, decreasing substance use, academic skills coaching and improved self-care (e.g., more sleep, regular exercise). 

ADHD is much more than an attention and concentration issue. It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood characterized by problems with attention, concentration, executive functioning, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity, which significantly impair functioning across various domains (e.g., school, work, home, social). 

What is the process that can lead to an ADHD diagnosis?

Given the complexity of ADHD and the overlap with many other conditions, we generally recommend that a student undergo a mental health evaluation by a psychiatric provider, psychologist, or other mental health clinician at the UWCC as a first step. If an ADHD diagnosis is considered, the student may be referred off-campus for a comprehensive ADHD assessment or neuropsychological testing. These are not services provided at the UWCC. It is the student’s responsibility to have this completed and to ensure the scope of the evaluation meets the UWCC’s requirements, as stated below. Students may instead choose to pursue an assessment on their own and if it supports a diagnosis of ADHD, then seek treatment at the UWCC.  

What treatments are available for ADHD?

ADHD treatment may entail psychotherapy, mindfulness, meditation, strategies to improve executive functioning and study skills, and in some cases, medication. Medication for ADHD includes stimulants and the non-stimulant atomoxetine. Stimulants are not indicated for everyone and in some cases are contraindicated. It’s important to know that while medication may decrease some symptoms of ADHD, many people continue to struggle with symptoms of ADHD. Many people don’t respond to medication, experience side effects (e.g., for stimulants – anxiety, irritability, mood changes, personality changes, headaches, insomnia, physical side effects), or don’t like how they feel on medication. A multifaceted approach to ADHD treatment has the best outcomes. 

The UWCC offers medication management for those diagnosed with ADHD with adequate documentation, prioritizing students who have a history of several unsuccessful ADHD medication trials and those with co-occurring disorders. 

I am already taking ADHD medication(s). What are my options?

If you’re already taking ADHD medication and are looking to continue it while at school, there are several options: 

• Continue care with your current practitioner. Most medications, including stimulants, can be electronically prescribed, even across state lines. This option will require visits home to meet with your clinician. 

• Find an off-campus psychiatric provider or primary care provider who feels comfortable prescribing stimulants in the Seattle area. Due to the high demand for psychiatric care in the Seattle area, we recommend starting the process several months prior to moving to Seattle to ensure continuity of care and that you do not run out of medication. 

To be considered for ADHD treatment at the UWCC we require a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed/board certified Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Psychiatric ARNP (MN or DNP). Documentation should be on official letterhead and include the clinician’s name, title, license number, certification credentials, phone/fax number, address, signature, and dates of treatment. The evaluation should include the following: 

• History and time course of attention and concentration issues and if applicable, hyperactivity 
• How symptoms significantly impair functioning across settings (e.g., school, work, social) 

• Medical, developmental, educational, psychiatric and psychosocial history 
• Performance and Symptom Validity Measures 
• Interpretive summary that supports a diagnosis of ADHD and rules out alternative diagnoses or explanations for attention and concentration issues 
• Diagnosis of ADHD, including sub-type, and the DSM-V-TR criteria that have been met 

For students under the age of 25, we require evaluations to have been performed within the past 5 years.  

If you have been previously prescribed and/or are currently taking ADHD medication, we require treatment records from your prescriber. A summary letter of the student’s treatment course, including dates of treatment and all medication trials, including trial duration, tolerability/side effects, and response for each medication will suffice. The letter should be on official letterhead and include the clinician’s name, title, license number, certification credentials, phone/fax number, address, and signature. 

It is the student’s responsibility to provide the requested information and clinical records to the UWCC for review.  

Documents should be faxed or mailed to: 

UW Counseling Center 

Attn: Psychiatry (Psychiatry Care Coordinator) 

1410 NE Campus Pkwy #401, Box 355830 

Seattle, WA 98195-5830 

Phone: 206-543-1240 

Fax: 206-543-4716 

Once all documentation has been received: 

• UWCC staff will notify the student through a secure message on the portal. 
• Our Psychiatry team will review the case to determine if there is adequate supporting documentation for a diagnosis of ADHD and if the student meets criteria for medication management at the UWCC. 
• If your case meets criteria for treatment at the UWCC, we’ll contact you to schedule a psychiatric evaluation and once that has been completed, we’ll discuss treatment options, which may or may not include medication. All final decisions for prescribing are at the discretion of the treating provider.