DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured interview designed to enhance ADHD assessments for adults. This study is designed to assess the criterion validity of 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 affect every aspect of our lives, from relationships to career advancement and the daily tasks we perform. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic view, examining how symptoms impact all aspects of our lives. Dr. Schilling will begin by evaluating your symptoms and medical history. 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 a diagnostic interview tool created by psychologists and psychiatrists to evaluate adult ADHD symptoms. It has been demonstrated to be extremely sensitive and precise. diva assessment for adhd is extremely effective in identifying those suffering from the disorder. It has the potential to increase awareness and diagnose the condition of adult ADHD in Korea, as it is the only validated semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults suffering from ADHD available in the country.
A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist, will ask questions to determine the core symptoms of ADHD. These include inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. The clinician will also examine the background of the person as well as their childhood experiences and the impact on their present behavior. This is because the symptoms of ADHD don't just emerge suddenly, they develop throughout the teen years, and into adulthood.
The DIVA can detect ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV ADHD criteria during childhood and into adulthood, and how these symptoms have affected the person's daily functioning across five areas - education, employment, family/partner relationships, social activities/leisure, and self-esteem/confidence. Other screening tools, like the WURS brief that was compared with the CAADID revealed low sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
In order to determine the presence of ADHD in adults, it is essential to evaluate the signs and symptoms as well as their history. This can be accomplished through a comprehensive interview about childhood symptoms and an assessment of the neurocognitive. It is crucial to think about the impact that these symptoms have on the individual's work and daily life. This can be evaluated conducting a structured interview, the DIVA and, in certain instances, obtaining information from relatives and friends.
The DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was first developed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been revised for use in other countries including Korea. This study looked at the validity of the criterion used to determine the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adults with ADHD.
During the DIVA the clinician will ask about ADHD symptoms during the early years and in adulthood. They will also inquire about the age at which they first noticed symptoms and the level of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician will also collect a variety of sociodemographic information and inquire about any psychiatric co-morbidity.
MINI-S and Version 5.0.0, the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI) and the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to detect psychiatric co-morbidity. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD was determined by two psychiatrists with experience who utilized the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to determine the severity of symptoms in 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 has good concurrent validity when compared with the WURS scale, and fair validity when compared with three self-report ratings instruments that 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 diagnosis of the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with that of a clinical diagnosis made by two experienced psychiatrists. This was in agreement with the specificity and sensitivity of earlier screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
If you have an undiagnosed ADHD it can greatly affect your life. This can affect your relationships, academic performance and work. It can also impact how you organize your daily life. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist or psychologist, will conduct a structured discussion with you regarding your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. This will involve standardised questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also examine your personal history, including childhood experiences to give you an accurate picture of the symptoms you are experiencing.
This approach is crucial for ensuring a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. This will help us better understand your symptoms and inform your treatment.
The DIVA assessment is a highly efficient method of diagnosing adults with ADHD and has excellent sensitivity and specificity. It has also been shown to be a good criterion-validated test when compared to self-report scales such as Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrent validity with these scales and has reasonable validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
In contrast to the more conventional methods used to assess ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation focuses on identifying and discussing the symptoms that are present in both childhood and in adulthood, thus increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and enabling a more accurate comparison between sociodemographic traits of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also gives an opportunity to think about the impact of co-occurring disorders on the manifestation of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, it could be necessary to set up an appointment with a Pediatrician or Psychiatrist to further assess and/or therapy. You may be referred to a specialist psychologist for a thorough assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there is any co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions like depression and anxiety. This will help your Psychologist determine the best 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. However, a thorough evaluation requires the expertise of experienced medical professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a well-structured and extensive tool, helps to improve the adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by analyzing symptoms across different stages of life. It also identifies patterns of behavior that are persistent and aids in distinguishing between ADHD symptoms and other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD evaluation, a clinician will use a structured interview in order to ask a series questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The clinician assesses the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms to determine how they impact the individual's life and functioning in several settings. This information can be used to create an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and exhibits high sensitivity when compared to the WURS-brief, CAA DID and an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has a high degree of validity in conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily functioning: work and education, relationships home and family social connections, leisure time and hobbies.
A well-validated DIVA assessment requires the participation of the individual being assessed as well as their closest family members and friends. This will help build trust and create a strong therapeutic connection, which is crucial to the success of your evaluation.
A psychiatrist or psychologist with experience with the DIVA ADHD assessment can write an extensive professional report. This report will outline the findings of the test and provide a treatment strategy that is based on the evidence.
If you think you or a loved one might be suffering from ADHD, please contact us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and can provide an evaluation. She will then make an appointment with a specialist to develop an effective treatment plan. Be aware that the recommended treatment method is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.