ADHD Assessment Tools for Australian GPs
A curated assessment toolkit aligned with AADPA guidelines. Screen, assess, gather childhood evidence, and measure functional impact. Every instrument scored instantly with clinical severity bands.
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Your toolkit: ASRS-6 screener → full ASRS scoring guide or DSM-5 structured assessment → WURS-25 childhood evidence → WFIRS-S functional impairment → comorbidity screening (PHQ-9, GAD-7, K10, AUDIT, AQ-10). Plus Vanderbilt parent/teacher scales for child ADHD (SA, WA, VIC). All scored instantly with DSM-5 criterion grouping.
The AADPA Assessment Pathway
Follow the guideline-recommended clinical workflow. Each step builds on the last, covering every DSM-5 requirement from screening through to functional impairment.
Screen
ASRS-6Send before the appointment. A 6-question WHO screener that flags whether a full ADHD assessment is warranted.
~2 minAssess
ASRS (18-item) or Adult ADHD Assessment (DSM-5)Comprehensive DSM-5 symptom assessment covering all 18 inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity criteria across adulthood and childhood.
~30-45 minChildhood History
WURS-25Retrospective self-report of childhood behaviour patterns. AADPA guidelines require evidence of childhood-onset symptoms for a valid diagnosis.
~10 minFunctional Impact
WFIRS-S or ADHD-FISMeasures real-world impairment across work, relationships, daily routines, and self-concept. Functional impairment is required for DSM-5 diagnosis.
~15 minAdult ADHD Assessment Profile
6 instruments. One link. 29 minutes.
Send one link. Your patient completes 6 validated instruments at home. You receive a diagnostic summary with DSM-5 symptom endorsement, childhood history, functional impairment across 7 life domains, and comorbidity screening — aligned to the AADPA assessment pathway above.
Built from 6 validated instruments: ASRS (WHO), WURS-25, WFIRS-S (Weiss, 2000), PHQ-9, GAD-7, AQ-10. 138 items total.
Traffic-light DSM-5 symptom endorsement with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale counts.
Built for How ADHD Brains Work
ADHD rating scales only work if patients complete them carefully. These forms are designed around how ADHD brains actually process information — so you get more accurate data to work from.
Time estimates on every page
Patients with ADHD experience time differently. Showing "~3 minutes remaining" on each section reduces uncertainty and anchors attention.
Time blindness is a core executive function deficit in ADHD (Barkley, 2011)
Seven questions per page, maximum
Long scrolling forms overwhelm working memory. Seven items per page matches the cognitive load limit for sustained attention.
Miller's Law: 7 ± 2 items in working memory (Miller, 1956)
Day anchors for "when" questions
Instead of asking "how often in the last two weeks", the form anchors to specific days. Concrete recall is easier than abstract estimation for ADHD patients.
Episodic memory retrieval improves with temporal anchoring (Tulving, 1983)
Progress visibility throughout
A clear progress bar and section count (e.g. "Section 3 of 5") gives patients a sense of where they are. Removes the "how much longer" anxiety that causes disengagement.
Goal gradient effect: effort increases as perceived progress grows (Kivetz et al., 2006)
Patients respond more carefully, and you get more accurate data to work from. Better data in, better clinical decisions out.
Complete Assessment Toolkit
Beyond the core pathway. Child ADHD scales for GPs with paediatric prescribing rights, and comorbidity screening required by AADPA guidelines.
Child ADHD (Ages 8+)
Vanderbilt parent and teacher rating scales collect collateral evidence from two settings, as DSM-5 requires. For GPs with paediatric prescribing rights in SA (ages 8+), WA (ages 10+), and VIC (pending).
Comorbidity and Differential Diagnosis
AADPA guidelines require ruling out alternative explanations before diagnosing ADHD.
Mood & Anxiety
Rule out depression and anxiety before diagnosing ADHD. K10 also supports Medicare Mental Health Plans.
Substance Use
Screen for alcohol use. A common ADHD comorbidity and a prescribing consideration for stimulant medications.
Autism Screening
Brief autism screen. ADHD and autism frequently co-occur and share overlapping symptoms.
Try the Patient Experience Yourself
Free screening tools you can complete in minutes. See how the ND-friendly design works before you sign up.
Common Questions
What tools do I need to diagnose ADHD as a GP?
The AADPA guideline recommends a combination of clinical interview and validated rating scales. Start with the ASRS-6 screener, then use the full ASRS (18-item) or a structured DSM-5 assessment for comprehensive symptom evaluation. The WURS-25 captures retrospective childhood symptoms. The WFIRS-S measures functional impairment, which is required for a valid diagnosis. ClientForms provides all of these, scored instantly with clinical severity bands.
What does the AADPA guideline recommend for ADHD assessment?
The Australian ADHD Guideline (NHMRC-approved) recommends screening with validated tools like the ASRS, comprehensive clinical interview covering DSM-5 criteria in both adulthood and childhood, assessment of functional impairment across life domains, and differential diagnosis to rule out anxiety, depression, substance use, and autism. Rating scales should complement clinical judgement, not replace it.
Can I diagnose ADHD in children as a GP?
In SA (ages 8+), WA (ages 10+), and VIC (details pending), trained GPs can diagnose and prescribe for paediatric ADHD. The Vanderbilt parent and teacher rating scales collect collateral evidence from two settings as DSM-5 requires. QLD and NSW GP prescribing currently covers adults only.
Is ClientForms compliant with Australian privacy requirements?
Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256), stored on Australian servers in Sydney. ClientForms complies with the Australian Privacy Principles. Assessment forms are completed by patients on their own device. No patient data passes through third-party servers.
How much does it cost?
The free plan includes 10 scored responses in total, enough to trial a couple of ADHD assessments using multiple instruments per patient. Paid plans start at $9 AUD/month with unlimited responses, and your first month is free.
Australian Hosting
All data stored in Sydney, Australia. Nothing leaves Australian infrastructure.
AES-256 Encryption
Encrypted at rest and in transit. The same standard used by financial institutions.
Privacy Compliant
Built to comply with Australian Privacy Principles and healthcare data regulations.
Start Using the GP ADHD Toolkit Today
10 scored responses in total on the free plan. No credit card required. Set up your practice in 2 minutes.
Related Resources
- GP ADHD Prescribing Guide — State-by-state prescribing rules, training requirements, and reform timeline
- Free ADHD Screener — Quick self-assessment patients can try before booking a GP appointment
- ND-Friendly Design — How assessment forms are built around neurodivergent needs