DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis

DIVA is a semi-structured interview designed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study will evaluate the reliability of the criteria used to determine DIVA 2.0 and its validity in conjunction with Conners Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV (CAADID) criteria.

Compared to the top 20 attributes, DIVA attributes that correlate strongest with diagnosis are attention deficit for both childhood and adulthood and hyperactivity/impulsivity for adults, followed by CAARS ADHD TT1 score and IOWA personality disorders evaluation.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ADD/ADHD can affect every aspect of our lives including relationships and career progression to the daily tasks that are part of our lives. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic view, examining how symptoms impact every aspect of life. During your evaluation, Dr. Schilling will begin by collecting details about your symptoms as well as health background. She will then conduct an DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured, structured interview which evaluates both the main symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD your life.

The DIVA is an interview tool for diagnosing ADHD. It was created by psychologists and psychiatrists to determine adult ADHD symptoms. It has been found to be extremely sensitive and precise. It is also highly efficient in identifying people suffering from the disorder. It can help raise awareness and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea as it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic interview available in the country.

To conduct the DIVA the trained clinician typically psychologist or psychiatrist will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD such as inattention, hyperactivity and an impulsive nature. The psychologist will also examine the history of the individual and their childhood experiences and the impact on their current behaviours. The symptoms of ADHD are not sudden. They develop over a period of time from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood.

The DIVA can efficiently detect those suffering from ADHD because it takes into consideration both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood, and how those symptoms have affected the person's daily functioning in five areas of life: education, work, family/partner relations social activities/leisure time and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. Other screening tools, such as the WURS brief that was compared to the CAADID showed poor sensitivity, and negative predictive value.

Diagnosis

To diagnose ADHD in adults, it is essential to determine the severity of the signs and symptoms as well as their history. This can be done through a comprehensive interview on childhood symptoms as well as an assessment of the neurological. It is important to consider the impact that the symptoms can have on a person's work and daily life. This can be determined using a structured clinical interview, also known as the DIVA, and in some cases, obtaining information from friends and family members.

The DIVA interview is a semistructured, structured interview that was originally developed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated to be used by adults in other countries as well, including Korea. This study looked at the criterion validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in an adult clinical sample with ADHD.

During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms in the early years and in adulthood. They will also ask the age at which they first noticed symptoms and the level of impairment triggered by these symptoms. The clinician will also gather a variety of sociodemographic information and ask about any psychiatric-related co-morbidity.

The MINI-S as well as Version 5.0.0 The MINI-S plus Version 5.0.0, the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI), and the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to screen for psychiatric co-morbidity. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD was made by two experienced psychiatrists who utilized the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to determine the severity of symptoms in adulthood and childhood and determine the duration of those symptoms.

The sensitivity and specificity of DIVA-5 was found to be high for both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in childhood and adulthood. This diagnostic tool has good concurrent validity when compared to the WURS scale and has fair validity when compared to three self-report ratings instruments: the ASRS (self-report rating), FAB (self-report rating), and Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.

The sensitivity and specificity of the DIVA-5 was found to be high for all subtypes of ADHD in both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in adulthood and during childhood. The accuracy of diagnosis of the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with the accuracy of a diagnosis made by two experienced psychiatrists. This was in line with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.

Treatment

Undiagnosed ADHD can have a significant impact on your life. It can affect many areas from your relationships, academic progress and work to the basic tasks of organising daily living. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide treatment options that improve your symptoms and coping mechanisms.


A licensed clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist will conduct a structured interview with you regarding your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. adhd assessment psychiatry uk will involve asking standardised questions about your levels hyperactivity, inattention, and an impulsiveness. It will also look into your personal history and childhood experiences to give you an accurate picture of your symptoms.

This is essential to ensure a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. It also allows us to understand the root causes of your symptoms, which can help inform your treatment.

The DIVA assessment is a highly effective way of diagnosing adult ADHD, with high sensitivity and precision. It has also been shown to have sound criterion validity when compared with self-report scales for rating such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good consistency with these scales and fair validity with Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.

The DIVA evaluation, unlike the more conventional methods of measuring ADHD in adulthood it focuses on identifying signs that are present in childhood and into adulthood. This improves the accuracy of diagnoses and allows for a more precise comparison of the sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also offers an opportunity to think about the impact of co-occurring disorders on manifestation of ADHD symptoms.

If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, you might need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist or a Paediatrician to discuss further assessment and/or treatment. You may be referred to psychologists who specialize in more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. This will enable your Psychologist determine the best treatment plan.

Getting Started

Getting diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing providing explanations for long-standing issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of qualified healthcare providers. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a structured and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of adult ADHD diagnosis by evaluating symptoms across different life stages. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior, and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms in adults, such as anxiety or depression.

In a DIVA ADHD evaluation, a doctor will conduct a structured interview in order to ask a series of questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The clinician assesses the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms to determine the extent to which they affect the person in various settings. This information can be used to make an accurate diagnosis.

The DIVA assessment has been validated against other diagnostic tools and has shown high sensitivity in comparison to the WURS-brief and CAA-DID as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has excellent reliability in conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily function: work and education, relationships, home and family social interactions, free time and hobby.

A valid DIVA assessment requires participation from the person being evaluated as well as their close family members and friends. This will help build trust and a strong therapeutic bond, which will be essential to the success of your evaluation.

An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who has been certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide a detailed report. The report will detail the findings of the assessment and recommend a treatment plan that is based on the evidence.

If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from ADHD Contact us to make an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and is able to provide an assessment. She can refer you to a specialist who will formulate a treatment strategy. Please be aware that the recommended treatment method is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.