Post by Amanda Moses

Why I am not concerned about GPs diagnosing ADHD Various states in Australia, including NSW, VIC, QLD, and SA, are rolling out reforms to allow trained specialist GPs to diagnose and manage ADHD. I’ve been asked a few times for my perspective on this and have noticed increasing discourse online. Here’s why I’m welcoming these reforms. 1. The myth of overdiagnosis and misdiagnosis Much of the criticism I’ve seen centres on concerns about GPs “slapping on a diagnosis.” How are they going to assess ADHD in a 15-minute consult? Are they just going to be handing out ADHD diagnoses to everyone? This kind of rhetoric feeds into the narrative that ADHD is being overdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. This is not reflective of the current literature. In reality, ADHD has been grossly underdiagnosed and missed, particularly in those who are most marginalised. Many GPs work closely with their patients. Having GPs trained in this specialty area makes ADHD diagnosis more accessible, which I welcome. 2. “GPs aren’t trained to diagnose ADHD and should leave it to specialists.” This is not something all psychologists, or even psychiatrists, are trained to do. It is not part of our core training. Like us, GPs will need relevant specialty training to conduct these assessments. GPs are highly trained medical professionals. With appropriate training, there is no reason to assume this work is being delegated to under-qualified practitioners or reduced to a superficial process. 3. Privilege and accessibility Access to an affordable and timely diagnosis is a privilege. Those who most need support are often the ones who can’t access it due to cost and systemic barriers. Psychologists and psychiatrists often charge thousands for ADHD assessment. This is no shade — I am a provider too and understand how time-labour intensive the process is. But even when we conduct assessments, clients still need referral to someone who can prescribe medication. Restricting ADHD assessment to psychologists and psychiatrists reinforces systemic barriers and reserves diagnosis for those with greater financial resources and fewer layers of marginalisation. 4. Ethical considerations Under the new Code of Conduct for Psychologists (effective December 2025), we hold a responsibility to ensure services are equitable. Principle 6 states that psychologists have a responsibility to contribute to the effectiveness, fairness, and sustainability of the systems in which they work. Principle 6.1 highlights supporting clients’ right to access the level of service they need. There are not enough service providers to meet community need. Waitlists are exorbitant and costs are high. Training GPs to provide assessments is a logical next step. I hope this reduces bottlenecks and makes ADHD assessment more affordable and accessible — yes, even as a practice owner who provides ADHD assessments myself. I am genuinely hopeful about these reforms, and I welcome them.