Adult ADHD evaluation and treatment for Fort Lauderdale — structured diagnosis, careful prescribing.

Fort Lauderdale adults get a structured adult-ADHD workup — ASRS screen, DIVA-5 or CAADID interview, developmental history, and comorbidity screening — before any controlled substance is prescribed. RECO's Delray Beach office is 40 minutes north on I-95 from Las Olas or Victoria Park, close enough for regular titration visits and cardiovascular monitoring. Long-acting stimulants and non-stimulant options (atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine XR) are both routinely used depending on cardiac history and substance use profile.

From Las Olas, Victoria Park, or Coral Ridge, RECO Integrated Psychiatry’s Delray Beach office is a 40-minute drive north on I-95 — close enough for Fort Lauderdale adults to keep a specialist psychiatrist without uprooting work, family, or the daily rhythm that makes ADHD treatment sustainable. The practice evaluates and treats adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using a structured diagnostic protocol and visit-anchored prescribing rather than the two-question telehealth screening that has become the industry default. Rio Vista and Wilton Manors clients typically leave a first appointment with a differential diagnosis in hand, not a prescription mailed the same day.

The diagnostic protocol that actually confirms ADHD

DSM-5-TR criteria for adult ADHD are specific and frequently ignored: symptom onset before age 12, symptoms present in two or more settings, documented functional impairment, and rule-out of alternative explanations including major depression, generalized anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, substance use, and thyroid dysfunction. A first-visit intake at RECO’s adult ADHD treatment service begins with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) as a screen, followed by the DIVA-5 or CAADID as a structured diagnostic interview that walks each of the eighteen inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive criteria across childhood and adulthood.

Developmental history is not optional. Where memory alone does not support onset before age 12, the clinician requests childhood report cards, standardized testing results, or a corroborating history from a parent or older sibling. Comorbidity screening runs in parallel: PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, an AUDIT and drug-use inventory, and questions about sleep architecture that trigger a referral for polysomnography when indicated. Overdiagnosis is a real risk in the current care environment, and the protocol is built to catch it before a controlled substance is prescribed.

Stimulant options and how we choose

Methylphenidate-class agents — Concerta, Focalin XR, Ritalin LA, and Jornay PM — and amphetamine-class agents — Adderall XR, Vyvanse, and Mydayis — are equally first-line for adult ADHD. Individual response is not reliably predictable from patient characteristics, and a rational trial often means starting one class, titrating to a therapeutic dose, and switching classes if response is inadequate or side effects prohibitive. Long-acting formulations are preferred over short-acting immediate-release preparations because they reduce dose-timing gaps, blunt euphoric peaks, and lower diversion risk.

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is a prodrug requiring enzymatic conversion, which reduces abuse liability and makes it a first choice for clients with any personal or family substance use history. Jornay PM is dosed in the evening and released the next morning — useful for clients who cannot function through a morning routine on an unmedicated brain. Titration is anchored to scheduled follow-up visits with objective measures and structured symptom re-scoring, not to text messages requesting dose changes between appointments.

Non-stimulant options for when stimulants aren’t the fit

Not every adult ADHD patient is a stimulant candidate. Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with a 4-to-6-week onset and no abuse potential; it is a reasonable first-line agent for clients with active substance use disorder, tic disorders, or a history of stimulant-induced anxiety. Viloxazine (Qelbree) is a newer non-stimulant with a similar mechanism and a faster onset in some patients. Alpha-2 agonists — guanfacine extended-release and clonidine extended-release — are effective adjuncts and are particularly useful when hyperactivity, impulsivity, or sleep-onset insomnia dominate the clinical picture.

Bupropion has replicated evidence in adult ADHD when comorbid depression is present, and is a defensible off-label choice in the right patient. For clients with substance use history, cardiovascular contraindications, or documented stimulant intolerance, the non-stimulant pathway is well-mapped. Comorbid anxiety — extremely common in adult ADHD — may warrant concurrent treatment with sertraline, escitalopram, or buspirone, and adult-ADHD-specific CBT (the Safren protocol) is a routine referral.

Cardiovascular safety and the medications we monitor

Stimulant initiation is a cardiovascular decision as well as a psychiatric one. Intake includes a personal and family cardiac history, a resting blood pressure and heart rate, and an electrocardiogram for adults over 40 or any patient with a history of arrhythmia, structural heart disease, or unexplained syncope. Baseline blood pressure above 140/90 or resting heart rate above 100 warrants medical clearance before stimulant initiation, or a non-stimulant pathway.

Follow-up visits document blood pressure and heart rate at every contact, along with weight and, where relevant, height. Sustained blood pressure elevation of more than 10 mmHg systolic or a resting heart rate rise above 100 prompts dose reduction, a switch to a different stimulant class, or transition to a non-stimulant regimen. The framework is standard adult psychiatric practice — the difference is that it is actually run, at each visit, on paper, rather than assumed to be someone else’s job.

What to expect on your first visit

The first appointment runs 60 to 90 minutes. It covers the DIVA-5 or CAADID structured interview, comorbidity screening (PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT), a developmental and family history, a medication and cardiovascular history, and a discussion of functional goals. A patient leaves with a differential diagnosis, a treatment plan, and — where indicated — a prescription. Where the diagnostic picture is not yet clear, the plan is explicit: what additional history, informant collateral, sleep study, or lab work is needed before a controlled substance is started.

Follow-up visits are frequent during titration (every two to four weeks) and space out to monthly or quarterly once a stable dose is established. Coordination with primary care and any existing therapist is initiated at the first visit with signed releases.

Insurance and admissions from Fort Lauderdale

RECO Integrated Psychiatry is in-network with Florida Blue, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and BCBS plans. Front-desk staff verify benefits before the first visit and quote the specialist copay and any remaining deductible in writing. Adults commuting from Wilton Manors, Victoria Park, or Rio Vista typically schedule appointments outside I-95 rush hours and use telepsychiatry follow-ups once a stable regimen is established, reserving in-person visits for medication reviews and annual cardiovascular checks.

Serving residents of: Las Olas, Victoria Park, Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, Wilton Manors.