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ADHD Transition Planning Age — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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ModerateChild & Adolescent PsychiatryADHD Transition Planning AgeMRCPsych Paper B

A 17-year-old with ADHD remains under CAMHS and is likely to require continuing treatment in adulthood. According to NICE NG87, which option best describes the recommended timing of reassessment and transition arrangements?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Reassess at school-leaving age and usually complete transition arrangements by age 18

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as B · E = shown as C · B = shown as D · D = shown as E

B is correct. NICE NG87 recommends reassessing a young person with ADHD at school-leaving age to determine whether treatment should continue into adulthood. If ongoing care is required, arrangements for a smooth transfer—including anticipated treatment and service needs—should usually be completed by age 18. Age 18 is therefore normally the completion point, not the point at which planning first begins, making A incorrect. NG87 does not mandate automatic transfer at 16, so C is incorrect, although transition discussions and joint working may already be underway. Age 12 is not the ADHD-specific reassessment point in NG87, excluding D. E risks an unsupported discontinuity in specialist care and does not provide the recommended reassessment and planned handover.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87), recommendation 1.1.4, 2018, current NICE recommendations page: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87/chapter/recommendations