DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis

DIVA is an interview that is semistructured designed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study is designed to assess the criterion validity of DIVA 2.0 and its concomitant validity in comparison 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 affect every aspect of our lives, from relationships to career advancement, and the daily tasks we perform. This is why it's important that our ADHD assessments adopt a holistic approach and look at how the symptoms affect all aspects of our lives. Dr. Schilling will begin by assessing your symptoms and medical history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to evaluate the main symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the impact these symptoms have had on your life.

The DIVA is an interview instrument designed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to evaluate the symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity to sound and a high degree of specificity. It is extremely effective in identifying those who have the disorder. It can increase awareness and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea because it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic interview available in the country.

A trained and experienced clinician, typically psychiatrists, will ask questions to determine the primary symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The doctor will also analyze the history of the individual as well as their childhood experiences as well as their impact on their current behaviours. This is because the signs of ADHD don't just emerge in a flash, they manifest throughout the teen years, and through adulthood.

The DIVA can be used to detect ADHD due to its consideration of both the DSM-IV ADHD criteria during childhood and into adulthood, and how these symptoms have affected the person's daily functioning in five distinct areas - employment, education, family/partner relationships and leisure/social activities, as well as confidence and self-esteem. In comparison other screening tools, like the WURS-brief which was compared to the CAADID and showed low sensitiveness and negative predictive value.

Diagnosis

To determine ADHD in adults it is crucial to assess the symptoms as well as their background. This can be done with an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms as well as a neurological examination. It is also important to consider the impact of the symptoms on the person's work and life. This can be evaluated by conducting a structured interview, the DIVA and, in certain instances, getting information from friends and family members.

The DIVA interview is a semistructured interview first designed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined for use in other countries, including Korea. This study looked at the validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adult patients with ADHD.

During the DIVA The clinician will inquire about the presence of ADHD symptoms during childhood and adulthood, the age at which symptoms onset, and the severity of impairment resulting from those symptoms. The clinician also collects variety of sociodemographic information and inquires about any psychiatric or comorbidity.

MINI-S and 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 diagnosis of clinical ADHD was made by two psychiatrists with years of experience who utilized the DIVA-5, a structured diagnostic interview, to evaluate symptoms in both 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. The diagnostic tool was demonstrated to have good concordance with the WURS scale as well as fair concurrent validity with three self-report rating instruments: ASRS, FAB, 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 diagnosing ADHD with the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with that of a clinical diagnosis established by two expert psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the specificity and sensitivity of previous screening tools such as the ASRS and the WURS.

Treatment

If you have an undiagnosed ADHD it can greatly impact your life. It can affect many areas, from relationships, academic and work progress to the simple task of organising your day-to-day life. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, and provide treatment options to alleviate your symptoms and coping mechanism.

A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist or psychologist, will conduct an in-depth interview with you regarding your current symptoms using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. This will include asking standard questions about your levels hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. It will also explore your personal history, including your childhood experiences, in order to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and their impacts on your life.

This approach is essential to a complete adult ADHD diagnosis. This helps us better understand your symptoms and inform your treatment.

The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high specificity and sensitivity. It has also been shown to have good criterion valid when compared to self-report scales like the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales, and has fair validity with Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.

In contrast to the more conventional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation is focused on identifying and discussing symptoms that can be observed in childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and allowing for a more accurate comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA assessment can also be used to assess the effects of co-existing disorders on the presentation and severity of ADHD symptoms.


If your Psychologist is unable to recommend medication, it may be necessary to make an appointment with a pediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment and/or therapy. You can be referred a specialist psychologist for a more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there is any co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing any comorbid conditions, like depression or anxiety. This will enable your Psychologist determine the best treatment plan.

Getting Started

Being diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing providing explanations for long-standing problems and opening the door to effective treatment options. A thorough evaluation requires the expert knowledge of qualified healthcare professionals. 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 detects patterns of behavior that persist and assists in determining the difference between ADHD symptoms and other conditions, such as depression or anxiety.

In a DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician conducts a structured interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. get an adhd assessment , frequency and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect the individual in different settings. This information can be used to create an accurate diagnosis.

The DIVA test is validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It shows high sensitivity when compared to WURS-briefs, CAA-DIDs and psychiatrist's tests. It also has excellent reliability for conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily functioning that include education and work relationships home and family social interactions, free time and hobbies.

To be able to conduct an accurate DIVA assessment, the individual being evaluated, their family members and friends must be present. This will help establish trust and create a strong therapeutic bond, which is crucial to the success of your assessment.

An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who has been certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide a detailed report. This report will outline the results of the assessment and suggest a treatment plan that is based on evidence.

If you think you or a loved one might be suffering from ADHD If you suspect that someone you know may have ADHD, please call us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to provide a comprehensive evaluation. She can refer you to a specialist who will formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Be aware that an amalgamation of medication and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment.