Complexities in the Assessment of Adults with ADHD

Explore the intricacies and complexities in ADHD assessments, and feel equipped to conduct assessments with adults through our one-day professional development and training opportunity.

Overview

There is a rapid demand for ADHD assessments which has posed challenges in upskilling psychologists to conduct these assessments. It is crucial that psychologists consider that an ADHD assessment is not just an ADHD assessment. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There is also a high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and conduct and personality disorders. It is crucial that co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders and comorbid psychiatric conditions need to be comprehensively assessed and established so that the best order of treatment can be determined together with the client. There should also be an emphasis on assessment as a therapeutic process, and assessors should wear the ‘therapeutic lens’ at the outset of the evaluation.

Learning Outcomes

This one-day training workshop will cover the intricacies of conducting assessments with adults suspected of ADHD. It will discuss the issues and dilemmas in ADHD assessments, such as:

• Issues around cognitive bias and errors
• Assessing co-morbid and co-occurring conditions
• Transdiagnostic and diagnostic overshadowing issues
• Issues around feigning ADHD and the use of ‘malingering’ tests
• Psychometric instruments to assess ADHD and other co-morbid conditions
• Diagnostic considerations and formulation
• Treatment considerations

The facilitator will introduce the use of an empirically validated assessment approach in assessing not only ADHD but other co-morbid and co-occurring conditions.  Group and case discussions will allow the participants to apply their learning from the session.

Eligibility

This one-day training workshop is suitable for psychologists and psychiatrists, provisionally registered psychologists and postgraduate psychology, counselling and psychotherapy students, who are aiming to develop their knowledge and skills in conducting ADHD assessments especially with client with complex presentations.

Enrolment includes all workshop material and a certificate of attendance which is recognised as 6 hours of a Cairnmillar Professional Development Program. Please note, catering is not included.

Our Trainer

Dr Joseph Allan Sakdalan

Dr Sakdalan is an NZ and AHPRA registered clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, and clinical neuropsychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience conducting assessments and treating complex clients with mental health problems, neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders, personality issues, and offending behaviours.  He has worked across various sectors, including educational and hospital settings, community and inpatient psychiatric services, forensic disability and forensic mental health, and in private practice.

Dr Sakdalan is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Cairnmillar Institute. He is the Unit Coordinator for the Advanced Assessments for Clinical Psychologists, which is a course for the Master of Clinical Psychology (Post-Registration) program. Dr Sakdalan is also a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Problem Behaviour Program at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) in Victoria, Australia. In addition, he runs a private practice in Auckland and Melbourne. He is passionate about teaching and mentoring psychologists and other mental health professionals to develop their skills in assessing and treating clients with complex presentations.

Dr Sakdalan has pioneered the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative psychological programs such as the adapted DBT coping skills program for clients with intellectual disabilities with challenging/offending behaviours, and a suite of offence-related and offence-specific treatment group-based programs (e.g. sexual offending, family violence, general offending, treatment readiness, substance abuse) implemented in forensic and correctional services.  Dr Sakdalan has written book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles and has run training workshops locally and internationally in his speciality areas.