DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview designed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the criteria used to determine 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.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of ADD/ADHD affect every aspect of our lives, from relationships and career advancement to the everyday activities that comprise our lives. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a comprehensive perspective, looking at how symptoms impact every aspect of our lives. In your assessment, Dr. Schilling will start by gathering details about your symptoms as well as health history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured interview that evaluates both the core symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD on your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool designed by psychiatrists and psychotherapists to assess symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been demonstrated to have sound sensitivity and specificity. It is extremely effective in identifying people suffering from the disorder. adhd assessment uk cost can increase awareness and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic test available in the country.
In order to conduct the DIVA the trained clinician typically psychologist or psychiatrist will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD which include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The psychologist will also look at the background of the person and their childhood experiences and the impact on their present behavior. This is because the signs of ADHD aren't something that just happens to appear at a moment's notice, they are developed throughout the teen years, and through adulthood.
The DIVA can effectively identify those with ADHD, as it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood and how these symptoms have impacted the individual's daily functioning in five distinct areas of life - education work, family/partner relationships, family, social activities/leisure time, and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. Other screening tools, for instance the WURS brief, which was compared with the CAADID showed poor sensitivity, and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine ADHD in adults it is important that you evaluate the symptoms as well as their background. This can be accomplished through a comprehensive interview on childhood symptoms as well as an assessment of the neurological. It is crucial to think about the impact these symptoms can have on a person's work and life. This can be assessed by conducting a structured interview, the DIVA and, in certain cases, getting information from family members and friends.
The DIVA interview is a semistructured interview first developed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated to be used by adults in other countries including Korea. This study evaluated the validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adult patients with ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood. They will also inquire about the age of onset of symptoms and the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician also collects diverse set of sociodemographic data and asks about any mental health co-morbidity.
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 determine if a psychiatric co-morbidity existed. A diagnosis of clinical ADHD was determined by two psychiatrists with experience who used the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to evaluate symptoms in both adulthood and childhood and determine the duration of these 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 was shown to have good concurrent validity with the WURS scale as well as fair concurrent validity with three self-report rating instruments: the 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 diagnostic accuracy of the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with the accuracy of a diagnosis established by two expert psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the specificity and sensitivity of earlier screening tools such as the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a major impact on your life. It can impact your relationships, academic progress and work. It can also affect the way you manage your daily life. A diagnosis can help identify your strengths and weaknesses and also provide treatment options to improve your symptoms and cope mechanisms.
A licensed psychologist (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will have a structured conversation with you, using the DIVA-5 tool to assess your current symptoms. This will involve asking standardised questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also dig into your personal history and childhood experiences to get a complete picture of your symptoms.
This method is crucial to a complete adult ADHD diagnosis. This allows us to better understand your symptoms and inform your treatment.
The DIVA assessment is a highly efficient method of diagnosing adult ADHD, with high sensitivity and specificity. 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 good concurrent validity with these scales and has good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
In contrast to the more conventional methods for assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA assessment focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that occur both during childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing for an easier comparison of sociodemographic traits of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also offers an opportunity to think about the effects of co-occurring disorders on appearance of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist does not 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 an expert psychologist for a more in-depth assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there is any co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. This will enable your Psychologist to suggest the best treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing and provide explanations for lingering problems and opening the door to effective treatment options. However, a reliable assessment requires the expertise of experienced medical experts. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a well-structured and comprehensive tool, can help to improve the adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by analyzing symptoms at different life stages. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions which may have similar symptoms for adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD evaluation, a practitioner will conduct a structured interview in order to ask a series questions about symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor evaluates the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms to determine the extent to which they affect the individual in different settings. This information can be utilized to establish a precise diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment is validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It shows high sensitivity compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs, and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has excellent reliability in assessing ADHD in five areas of daily functioning such as education and work, relationships, home and family social interactions, leisure time and hobbies.
A valid DIVA assessment requires the participation of the person being assessed as well as their closest family members and close friends. This will help build trust and a strong therapeutic connection, which is crucial to the success of your assessment.
An experienced psychiatrist or psychologist who is certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can give a thorough report. The report will detail the findings of the assessment and recommend a treatment plan that is based on the data.
If you think you or a loved one might have 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 an expert who will create a treatment strategy. Please be aware that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the recommended treatment.