Dr Alan Cross

Meet Dr Alan Cross, Consultant Psychiatrist

When you seek an ADHD assessment as an adult, you are not just looking for a checklist. You are looking for clarity. You are looking to feel heard. You may be carrying years, sometimes decades, of confusion, underachievement, burnout, anxiety, or self-doubt. My role is to meet you there.

I have worked in adult mental health for over 25 years and have spent more than 15 years focusing specifically on Adult ADHD. During that time, I have assessed and supported thousands of adults: professionals, parents, students, self-employed entrepreneurs, creatives, and people who have quietly struggled without ever knowing why.

Adult ADHD is not simply about inattention or hyperactivity. It is about executive function, emotional regulation, motivation, overwhelm, and the invisible strain of trying to keep up in a world that feels faster than your brain. Many adults come to assessment after years of being told they are anxious, depressed, lazy, disorganised, or “just bad at life.” My work is about untangling that story carefully and respectfully.

A Thorough and Thoughtful Diagnostic Approach

A high-quality ADHD assessment is not rushed and it is never formulaic.

My diagnostic process is detailed and structured, but also human. It includes:

• A full developmental history exploring childhood patterns.
• A careful review of education, work, relationships, and daily functioning.
• Screening for co-occurring conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, autism spectrum traits, and tic disorders.
• Consideration of medical factors relevant to treatment.
• Clear mapping to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
• Integration of psychometric data in a clinically meaningful way.

From 2021 to 2025, I worked extensively with Psychiatry-UK conducting many online adult ADHD assessments. This provided deep experience in identifying ADHD across a wide range of complex presentations, including high-functioning professionals and individuals with multiple overlapping difficulties.

Earlier in my career, I established one of the first dedicated Adult ADHD clinics in Newham in 2013 — at a time when adult ADHD was still poorly recognised. Advocacy and service development have always been central to my work.

Understanding the Overlap Between ADHD and Addiction

I hold a CCT in General Adult Psychiatry with a subspecialty in Addiction Psychiatry. This is particularly important in adult ADHD, where substance use, gambling behaviours, or maladaptive coping strategies can develop over time.

My clinical and research interests include the relationship between ADHD and addiction, stimulant intolerance, and safe prescribing practices. I have been involved in research with Imperial College London on gambling disorder and brain function. This background means assessments are careful and balanced. ADHD treatment must be safe, sustainable, and tailored, not automatic.

Lived Experience and Neurodiversity-Informed Care

I also live with ADHD. This does not replace clinical expertise, but it deepens empathy. I understand the internal restlessness, the racing thoughts, the hyperfocus, the frustration with paperwork, the emotional intensity, and the exhaustion of masking.

Founder of Neurohaven

In 2022, I founded Neurohaven, a free digital platform designed to make ADHD and neurodivergence information accessible and stigma-free. Neurohaven reflects a wider philosophy: people thrive when they understand their brains. The platform translates research into accessible guidance, offers reflective resources, and promotes community and empowerment.

Assessment

You may be:

• A professional who looks successful but feels constantly overwhelmed.
• Someone who has tried anxiety or depression treatments without full resolution.
• A parent recognising your child’s traits in yourself.
• An individual worried about stimulant safety.
• A high-achiever struggling silently with executive dysfunction.
• Someone unsure whether this is “really ADHD” or something else.

If ADHD is present, we discuss treatment options carefully, including medication and non-pharmacological strategies. If ADHD is not the primary explanation, we explore what is. The goal is not a label. The goal is clarity, safety, and forward movement.

If you are considering assessment, you are already taking an important step.

Assessment is not about “proving” you have ADHD. It is about understanding your mind accurately.

I also currently work with Diverse Diagnostics, as well as Augmentive, providing Adult ADHD Assessments.

For patients in treatment: https://syncq-i.com/titration

A note on bookings with Augmentive:

Please allow at least one working day in advance of your booking to allow for the necessary pre-assessment forms to be sent to you, and to allow enough time for you and and your chosen person (ideally a parent or older sibling) to fill out your observer report.