CAPS ADHD Protocol

If you are interested in an assessment or treatment of ADHD, please call CAPS at (650) 723-3785 and request the support of one of our CAPS clinicians. CAPS provides ADHD assessments only for students who have previously been evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD and are able to provide the documentation.  Additional campus resources are available for students seeking evaluations for a new diagnosis of ADHD.  

Please note: CAPS does not prescribe refills on stimulant medications prior to the completion of our assessment process. You are encouraged to continue obtaining medication from your previous physician until care is arranged at CAPS.

CAPS only accepts Stanford’s Cardinal Care insurance for medication treatment, and so if you are not covered by Cardinal Care, your medication visits will be billed at out-of-pocket rates (fees vary with complexity level of visit).  

The following information needs to be provided to CAPS before an ADHD evaluation is scheduled. The forms can be downloaded and filled out electronically.  

1. A written report of your prior evaluation and/or neuropsychiatric assessment from the referring clinician is required for your evaluation at CAPS. However, alone it will not be considered diagnostic, even if the report contains a diagnosis of ADHD. The report should include previous treatment attempts and your current medication regimen.
2. Consent to release information between CAPS and
   1. Parent or other adult who knew you well as a child (grandparent, teacher, aunt/uncle, coach)
   2. Adult that knows you well currently (roommate, partner, family member, close friend)
   3. Prior provider (prescriber and/or evaluator)
   4. Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
   5. Schwab Learning Center (SLC)
3. Parent/childhood observer questionnaire  is to be filled out by an adult who knew you well before the age of 12, often a parent. (Note: this form is not required if you have provided documentation of neuropsychological testing before the age of 11.) A persistent pattern of signs, symptoms and impairment as a child is essential for a diagnosis of adult ADHD. You may have a hard time remembering whether your problems date back to childhood. Adults who knew you as a child provide important evidence of early impairment.
4. Adult observer questionnaire  is to be filled out by an adult who knows you currently (roommate, partner, family member, close friend). This adult will be providing evidence of current impairment in two or more settings.
5. Student self questionnaire
6. Additional information is encouraged but not required such as: school records or academic testing reports.

The above information can be faxed to CAPS at 650-725-2887 or hand delivered to our front desk.  You may also upload the forms directly into your chart through the Vaden portal, however, please also notify our front desk staff that you have done so.

Once the above information has been completed, you will be scheduled for an ADHD assessment with a CAPS psychiatrist. A comprehensive diagnostic interview will be performed to review the evidence for ADHD and consider whether your symptoms may be caused or worsened by something other than ADHD. This may take more than one visit. Several mental and physical health conditions can mimic or coexist with ADHD, including anxiety, depression, academic burnout, environmental stress, sleep deprivation, substance use/abuse, learning differences, and medical disorders. 

If, after the above evaluation is complete, there is still a lack of clarity in the diagnosis, you may be referred to the Schwab Learning Center at the Children’s Health Council (SLC@CHC) for further assessment. (SLS@CHC serves all ages of Stanford students and is at no cost to the student.)  Further testing can help identify other potential causes for your symptoms and help demonstrate the significant impact of your impairments on academics.