ADHD and Autism Spectrum (ASD) Assessment for Adults

Q: Who is the assessment for?

It is for privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe, as well as statutorily insured patients and people with international insurance as self-payers. Because the practice holds a statutory psychotherapy licence, the assessment cannot be billed to German statutory health insurance. You receive an itemised cost estimate with the fee codes and time allocations in advance — also for a reimbursement application.

We offer a guideline-based assessment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults, with reference to the German S3 guidelines and the diagnostic criteria of ICD and DSM-5 — and we carry it out in English where that is your preference: consultation, structured interviews, feedback session and the written report. A frequent reason for referral is long-standing depression, anxiety or chronic exhaustion that has responded only insufficiently to the usual treatments. It can then make sense to examine, as part of the differential diagnosis, whether a previously unrecognised ADHD or autism spectrum condition is involved.

On the state of the guidelines: the German S3 guideline on ADHD is currently being revised (consultation draft, May 2026); the German S3 guideline on the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders dates from 2016, has expired and has not yet been replaced. Its recommendations and the criteria of the classification systems remain the basis.

Fee information in English — download

What the assessment costs, item by item, with the German fee codes (GOÄ) your insurer will ask for. Self-payers and patients with international insurance:

German private insurance (PKV) and Beihilfe:

The German documents are the authoritative version and are what your insurer will normally want to see: Kosten der Diagnostik. A detailed individual estimate is issued before anything begins.

Before you book: what should the assessment clarify for you?

The aim of the assessment is to understand your difficulties: when they arise, what makes them worse, what eases them, and how they connect with your life history and your everyday life. A diagnosis can be part of that answer. The answer itself is an understanding of your situation — and of what can change as a result.

It therefore helps to ask yourself a few questions beforehand:

What weighs on me most at the moment — and since when?
In which situations does it get worse, and in which easier?
What do I hope the assessment will give me: an explanation, relief, treatment, support at work, in my studies or in my relationship?
What would change for me if the result is “yes” — and what if it is “no, but …”?

Do bring your answers to the first consultation. They help to focus the assessment on what actually matters to you.

For patients: how the assessment proceeds

Detailed clinical and biographical history, where possible including information from a relative or close person
Structured clinical interviews
Psychometric testing with established self- and informant-rated instruments
Careful differential diagnosis (for example distinguishing depression, anxiety and trauma-related disorders)
A written report with diagnosis and treatment recommendations — also for the doctors and therapists who go on treating you

We do not use the ADOS-2 in adults. Instead, the assessment rests on information from relatives or long-standing close persons (where possible), on information about your childhood — where available, old school reports or other records — on structured observation of behaviour during the examination, and on structured clinical interviews. Questionnaires complement this picture; on their own they do not establish a diagnosis.

ADHD and autism spectrum disorder frequently occur together and, since DSM-5, can be diagnosed alongside each other. The combined assessment examines both questions without presupposing either.

More about how we understand ASD and ADHD — our stance towards diagnosis and the offer of couple therapy where neurodivergence is involved — can be found under “Understanding neurodivergence”.

What “in English” means here

Consultations, interviews and the feedback session are held in English, and the report is written in English. Not every questionnaire exists in a validated English version. Several instruments were developed in English and are used in the original; a few exist only with German norms. Where we have to fall back on a German form, or where norms were established in a German-speaking sample, the report says so — this affects how confidently a score can be interpreted.

With your consent the report goes to your referring practice, and can be issued in German as well if a German-speaking clinician will continue your treatment. We also see people who were assessed as children abroad and need a current report within the German system.

For referring clinicians

We are glad to answer questions from colleagues. The assessment is guided by the guidelines (see above); findings and the written report with diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment recommendations go — with the patient’s consent — to the referring practice promptly.

Treatment following the assessment: after assessment, disorder-specific, manualised treatment — particularly of the associated symptoms — can take place in our private psychiatric practice. As the manuals provide, the course of treatment is measured continuously with scientifically validated instruments.

Treatment manuals in use (a selection):

Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) after Bateman & Fonagy — borderline personality disorder
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) after Clarkin, Yeomans & Kernberg — borderline personality disorder
Psychodynamic therapy of social phobia (Leichsenring, Beutel, Salzer et al.)
Psychodynamic therapy of generalised anxiety disorder (Leichsenring & Salzer)
Panic-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (PFPP; Subic-Wrana, Milrod & Beutel) — panic disorder
Long-term analytic psychotherapy of chronic depression (LAC manual; Leuzinger-Bohleber, Fischmann & Beutel)
Psychodynamic therapy of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (Reddemann & Wöller)
Psychodynamic-Interpersonal Therapy of somatoform disorders (PISO; Arbeitskreis PISO)

A manual is included in this list only if it has been scientifically validated.

Because our practice holds a statutory psychotherapy licence, we offer the ADHD/ASD assessment as a private medical service under the German fee schedule (GOÄ) — for privately insured patients, those entitled to Beihilfe, and statutorily insured patients as self-payers. Statutorily insured patients can apply to their insurer for reimbursement — application template and procedure; all figures under fees and reimbursement. Appointments via Doctolib or by email.

What you receive at the end

Not a bare yes or no. You receive a written report that also makes your results visible — much as a laboratory report shows internal values. The charts place where you stand in relation to comparison groups. Our aim is to understand your profile of thinking, feeling and behaviour better — and to derive concrete therapeutic starting points from it.

The outcome is open. A finding of “no ADHD and no autism spectrum disorder, but …” is a full result in its own right — for instance where depression, social anxiety or a trauma-related disorder explains the difficulties better. In that case, too, you receive a report you can work with.

Example

The ADHD profile in space

Your values in relation to the comparison group — where something stands out, visible at a glance.

Example

The body profile

Over- and under-sensitivity by sense, body awareness, emotion recognition and physical symptom burden on one sheet — where body and experience belong together.

Synthetic example charts for illustration — our own graphics, not real patient data.

For clinicians

Priorities for treatment planning. On request we evaluate the findings not only diagnostically but derive from them a recommendation of priorities for treatment planning: which themes carry the picture today, which direction of treatment is closer at hand — a focused, practising approach or a structure- and relationship-oriented one — and in what order. Where the findings do not support that, the report says so. The recommendation is decision support; the indication is set by the treating clinician.

Taking stock during ongoing therapy. A psychometric stocktaking can be useful during a treatment already under way — when therapy stalls, when it remains unclear what carries the symptoms today, or when a second perspective on the indication is wanted. We coordinate this with the treating clinician.

Measuring the course. Some of the instruments are sensitive to change and can be repeated after some months. This makes visible whether symptom burden, mentalizing capacity or structural level of functioning have changed — as measurement, not as impression. The report sets out which instruments form the one-off baseline assessment and which are intended as course parameters.

Individual or group setting. An autism-specific group therapy programme is in preparation. On request we set out already now what the findings suggest for or against a group setting, and what adaptations a group needs where neurodivergence is involved. We draw on the current state of research: for autistic adults without intellectual disability, the evaluation of a manualised German group programme has been available since 2026 (FASTER, University of Freiburg, 84 participants). Social responsiveness, self-esteem and depressive symptoms improved to a small-to-moderate degree, quality of life was unchanged — and about a third of those enrolled barely attended the sessions. The authors conclude that careful, autism-specific preparation is needed. This is the purpose of a checklist for the preparatory interview — what speaks for it, what against, what the frame must be able to do. It is not a decision about suitability — admission to a group is always decided in the preparatory interview.

Combining individual and group therapy. The German psychotherapy guideline permits individual and group therapy to be combined — including with the emphasis on the group. Where neurodivergence is involved, a group sensibly does not stand at the beginning of a treatment. First, what individual treatment establishes is needed — a reliable frame, a sustaining relationship and a setting that fits one’s own processing of stimuli. Then the group can become the place where connectedness and separateness can be tried out with others — with a structured introduction beforehand and an accompanying individual session that catches what the group sets in motion. In ADHD, the evidence means that medication belongs in the weighing as well — how we put that question and what the evidence supports is set out under Medication: what we know and what we do not. What makes sense in the individual case we discuss in the feedback session.

Onward referral. Where a treatment need emerges that we do not cover ourselves, we name it and help with the search for a suitable method or setting.

All recommendations are decision support on the basis of the test findings — not a prescription of treatment. The form of therapy and the setting are decided by the patient and the treating clinician together. On the group study: Schweizer et al. (2026), Frontiers in Psychiatry, doi 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1863942 — a naturalistic single-arm study without a control group; the results do not establish cause and effect.

Fees and reimbursement

The aim is an understanding rather than a label — a report you can read and place, and from which concrete next steps follow. The scope of the assessment follows from that: as thorough as the question requires, and no more.

Appointments are invoiced under the German medical fee schedule for physicians (GOÄ). For self-payers, assessing one question — ADHD or ASD — typically comes to €420.11. Where both questions are brought together in a single assessment it is €495.86, because screening, first consultation, structured interview, feedback session and written report then arise only once.

In-depth differential modules — a collateral history with a relative, additional structured interviews, further test batteries on personality, structure, anxiety or body awareness, or a trauma module with a detailed history — are recommended only where screening or findings give a concrete reason, and always after discussion with you; depending on scope they range from €67.04 to €142.48. Only services actually provided are invoiced; modules not needed simply fall away.

Who bears the cost?

Privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe: private tariffs and Beihilfe leave more room in how the assessment is designed — and we use that room for more service: the first consultation and the feedback session take place as specialist consultations, with time for your questions, for placing the findings together and for what they mean for daily life, relationships and treatment; in the structured-interview session the psychiatric findings are also recorded separately. Assessing one question then comes to €619.75, both questions together to €695.50. Self-payers can of course book these services as well; the total rises accordingly. A guideline-based, thorough differential assessment under GOÄ is usually eligible for reimbursement. Your particular tariff decides — please clarify cover with your insurer or Beihilfe office in advance. We will gladly provide the itemised estimate with the fee codes beforehand for that purpose.

Statutorily insured patients: because our practice is licensed primarily as a statutory psychotherapy practice, this specialist psychiatric assessment cannot be billed via the insurance card. You may take up the assessment as a self-payer, or apply to your insurer for reimbursement beforehand.

Statutorily insured: routes to an assessment

The first route is the statutory system: your GP can refer you to a psychiatric practice that accepts statutory insurance; hospital and specialist outpatient clinics for adults also offer the assessment, and the appointment service on 116 117 arranges specialist appointments.

If that does not succeed in reasonable time, a German statutory health insurer that cannot provide a necessary service in time through doctors within the statutory system must reimburse the cost of a service obtained privately (§ 13 (3) SGB V). Whether that applies is decided by the insurer case by case. There is a template for the application that works for every insurer and every practice. The application has to be in German; the form is German with an English translation beneath each passage.

Ask for appointments within the statutory system — psychiatric practices, hospital outpatient departments and specialist adult clinics, and the appointment service on 116 117. Record every enquiry with date and outcome in the log.
Have the need confirmed — a referral or short note from your GP or treating psychotherapist; not from the practice that is to carry out the private assessment.
Submit the application with the cost estimate of the practice you have chosen — for our practice the fee information in the self-payer version (the German PDF is authoritative) — the log and any medical letters — in a way you can prove, for instance by registered post.
Wait for the decision. The insurer must decide within three weeks, or five weeks if its medical service is involved (§ 13 (3a) SGB V). Please clarify the question of costs with your insurer before booking an appointment.

The template is a guide to completing the application, not legal advice. If the application is refused, an objection (Widerspruch) is possible within one month; free advice in German is available from the Unabhängige Patientenberatung Deutschland on 0800 011 77 22.

International insurance. You settle our invoice and may submit it to your insurer. Whether and how much is reimbursed depends entirely on your policy — reimbursement cannot be promised.

The detailed figures

The full breakdown with all fee codes, in English:

For privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe:

The German versions are authoritative: Kosteninformationen (deutsch).

A clinical assessment. Our examination serves clinical classification, treatment planning and communication with the doctors and therapists who treat you alongside us or after us. You receive a detailed written report which — with your consent — also goes to the referring or continuing practice.

Where further support is at stake. Where a supportive measure is being sought — medical or vocational rehabilitation, assistance towards participation and inclusion (Eingliederungshilfe, Leistungen zur Teilhabe), or reasonable adjustments in study or at work — the report can, on request, also describe your level of functioning and capacity, where the question calls for it with a standardised instrument developed for that purpose (Mini-ICF-APP). Do talk to us; we will tell you what we can contribute.

What we do not offer are expert opinions in contested proceedings. We examine and treat clinically — entitlements are decided by the respective body itself.

As of October 2026. This overview is for orientation and is not a contract; the fee agreement and the services actually provided are what count. Please cancel agreed appointments at least 24 hours in advance; for later cancellation a reservation fee of €60.00 is charged.

Who this is for — and who it is not for

The assessment is for privately insured patients, those entitled to Beihilfe, and self-payers, including patients with international insurance. Because the practice holds a statutory psychotherapy licence, this specialist assessment cannot be billed to German statutory health insurance; statutorily insured patients can apply for reimbursement.

If an acute crisis is the reason you are getting in touch — acute suicidal thoughts, an acute psychotic or manic episode — an assessment is not the right first step. In Germany, emergency help is available around the clock on 112, and the telephone counselling service Telefonseelsorge can be reached free of charge on 0800 111 0 111 and 0800 111 0 222.

Getting an appointment

Appointments for private consultations and for the assessment are best arranged via Doctolib or by email. Please mention that you would like the assessment in English, so that we can plan the questionnaire set accordingly.

Praxis für Psychotherapie am Pottkamp
Dr. med. Stephan-Sebastian Scherer — Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist
Pottkamp 23 · 48149 Münster · Germany
Phone +49 251 97446348 · scherer@psychotherapie-am-pottkamp.de

Frequently asked questions about ADHD and ASD assessment

How does an ADHD assessment for adults in Münster proceed?

The assessment comprises a detailed clinical and biographical history, where possible including information from a relative or close person, structured clinical interviews and psychometric testing with established self- and informant-rated instruments. At the end stands a written report with diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Do you perform the ADOS-2 in adults?

No. Instead, the assessment rests on information from relatives or close persons (where possible), information about your childhood, structured observation of behaviour during the examination and structured clinical interviews. Questionnaires complement this picture; on their own they do not establish a diagnosis.

Can the assessment be conducted entirely in English?

Yes. Consultation, structured interviews, feedback session and the written report can be conducted in English. The limitation is the questionnaires: not all of them exist in a validated English version. Where a German form has to be used, or where the norms come from a German-speaking sample, the report says so and takes it into account in the interpretation.

Who is the assessment for?

It is for privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe, as well as statutorily insured patients and people with international insurance as self-payers. Because the practice holds a statutory psychotherapy licence, the assessment cannot be billed to German statutory health insurance. You receive an itemised cost estimate with the fee codes and time allocations in advance — also for a reimbursement application.

Will German statutory health insurance pay?

Not automatically. The first route is the statutory system: your GP, psychiatric practices, outpatient clinics and the appointment service on 116 117. If you cannot obtain an appointment for the assessment from doctors within the statutory system in reasonable time, you can apply to your insurer for reimbursement under § 13 (3) SGB V — please do so before booking an appointment. A template for every insurer, with English guidance and a log for your appointment enquiries, is in the section “Statutorily insured: routes to an assessment”. Whether costs are reimbursed is decided by the insurer case by case.

How are the fees regulated?

Invoicing follows the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ); before we begin we conclude a written fee agreement and you receive an itemised cost estimate with the fee codes and time allocations. The scope follows the question — in-depth modules are recommended only where screening or findings give a concrete reason, and always after discussion; only what is actually provided is invoiced. The current figures are in the section “Fees and reimbursement” and in the fee information PDFs above.

What should I think about before booking?

Above all, what the assessment should clarify for you: what weighs on you most at the moment, in which situations it gets worse or easier, what you hope the assessment will give you, and what would change for you if the result is “yes” or “no, but …”. The aim of the assessment is to understand your difficulties and your situation; a diagnosis can be part of that answer.

When is an assessment sensible?

A frequent reason is long-standing depression, anxiety or chronic exhaustion that has responded only insufficiently to the usual treatments. It can then make sense to examine, as part of the differential diagnosis, whether a previously unrecognised ADHD or autism spectrum condition is involved — as well as other explanations.

Can the assessment conclude that there is no ADHD or ASD?

Yes. The outcome is open, and a finding of “no ADHD and no autism spectrum disorder, but …” is a full result in its own right — for instance where depression, social anxiety or a trauma-related disorder explains the difficulties better. In that case, too, you receive a written report with treatment recommendations.

What happens after the assessment?

Afterwards, disorder-specific, manualised treatment — particularly of the associated symptoms — can take place in the private psychiatric practice. The course is measured continuously with validated instruments. Findings and report go — with consent — to the referring practice promptly.

Do you write reports for rehabilitation or disability-support applications?

Yes. Where a supportive measure is being sought — medical or vocational rehabilitation, assistance towards participation and inclusion (Eingliederungshilfe, Leistungen zur Teilhabe), or reasonable adjustments in study or at work — the report can, on request, also describe your level of functioning and capacity, where the question calls for it with a standardised instrument developed for that purpose (Mini-ICF-APP). Please tell us beforehand, so that we can include the question in the assessment. What we cannot offer are expert opinions in contested proceedings; entitlements are decided by the respective body itself.

How do I get an appointment?

Appointments for private treatment and for the assessment are best arranged via Doctolib or by email. For the psychotherapeutic consultation you can reach us by telephone on +49 251 97 44 63 48.

ADHD & autism spectrum assessment in adults