DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semistructured interview developed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study will evaluate the reliability of the criteria used to determine DIVA 2.0 and its concurrent 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.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of ADD/ADHD impact every aspect of our lives, from relationships and career advancement to the everyday activities that comprise our lives. It is important that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic view, examining how symptoms impact all aspects of life. During your evaluation, Dr. Schilling will begin by obtaining details about your symptoms as well as health background. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured interview which evaluates both the main symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD on your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool for diagnosing ADHD. It was created by psychologists and psychiatrists to evaluate adult ADHD symptoms. It has been demonstrated to be extremely sensitive and specific. It is highly effective at identifying those who have the disorder. It can increase awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnosis interview available in the country.
In order to conduct the DIVA the trained clinician typically a psychiatrist or psychologist - will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD, including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The doctor will also look at the history of the individual, including their childhood experiences and the impact on their present behavior. This is because the signs of ADHD do not just appear suddenly, they develop throughout the teen years, and even into adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify those with ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood and how the symptoms have impacted the individual's daily functioning in five distinct areas of life - education, work, family/partner relations social activities/leisure time and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. In comparison, other screening tools such as the WURS-brief, which was compared to the CAADID, showed poor accuracy and negative predictive values.
Diagnosis
In order to determine the presence of ADHD in adults, it is essential to evaluate the symptoms and their causes. This can be accomplished through a comprehensive interview on childhood symptoms and a neurological assessment. It is essential to take into consideration the impact that these symptoms have on the individual's job and daily life. This can be assessed through a structured medical interview, the DIVA, and in some instances, asking for information from family members and friends.
The DIVA is an interview with a semi-structured format that was initially developed to be used with adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined for use in other countries, including Korea. This study examined the criterion 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 first manifest, as well as the severity of impairment resulting from these symptoms. diva adhd assessment collects a variety of sociodemographic information and asks about any mental health comorbidity.
Patients were examined for psychiatric comorbidity using the MINI-S plus version 5.0.0 and the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impairment Screening Instrument (BEARNI), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Two experienced psychiatrists utilized the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to establish a clinical diagnosis of ADHD. They evaluated symptoms in adulthood as well as childhood and determined the length of 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 fair validity when compared with three self-report ratings instruments which include 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 the DIVA-5's diagnosis was found to be similar to that of a clinical diagnosis made by two psychiatrists. This was in line with the sensitivity as well as specificity of earlier screening tools, like ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it can greatly impact your life. This could be in a variety of aspects, from relationships to work and academic progress to the simple task of organising your day-to-day life. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as offer treatment options that help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A qualified clinician (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will conduct a structured conversation with you using the DIVA-5 tool to assess your current symptoms. This will include asking standard questions about your levels hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also explore your personal history, including childhood experiences, to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life.
This method is essential to ensure a complete diagnosis of adult ADHD. It also allows us to determine the root of your symptoms, which helps determine the best treatment for you.
The DIVA assessment is an extremely effective way of diagnosing adult ADHD with high sensitivity and precision. It has also shown to be valid as a criterion when compared with self-report scales, such as the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good consistency with these scales and fair validity with Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.
Contrary to the more conventional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA test is focused on identifying and discussing symptoms that occur both during childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing a more accurate comparison between sociodemographic traits of the two groups. The DIVA assessment also permits consideration of the effects of co-existing disorders on the symptoms and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist cannot recommend medication, you may need to make an appointment with a Psychiatrist or Paediatrician for further assessment and/or treatment. You can be referred to an expert psychologist for a thorough assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing any comorbid conditions, such as anxiety or depression. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
Getting diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing and provide explanations for lingering difficulties and opening doors to effective treatment options. A good evaluation does require the expertise of qualified healthcare providers. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a structured and extensive tool, helps improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by analyzing symptoms at different life stages. It also detects patterns of behavior that persist of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and other conditions which may have similar symptoms in adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD evaluation, a doctor will conduct a structured interview in order to ask a series questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The doctor evaluates the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms to determine how they impact the individual's life and functioning in a variety of environments. This information can be used to make an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It has high sensitivity compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs, and psychiatrist's tests. It also has high reliability when it comes to measuring ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: work and education as well as relationships, home and family social contact; free time and leisure.
A valid DIVA assessment requires participation from the person being assessed as well as their closest family members and close friends. diva adhd assessment will help establish trust and create a strong therapeutic connection, which is essential to the success of your assessment.
An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who is trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can give a thorough report. The report will detail the results of the assessment and recommend a treatment plan that is based on evidence.
Contact us to make an appointment if you or someone you love may have ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained to use the DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to provide a thorough evaluation. She can refer you to a specialist who will develop an appropriate treatment strategy. Please be aware that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the most effective treatment.