DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured interview designed to enhance ADHD assessments for adults. This study will evaluate the validity of the criterion used in 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.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ADD/ADHD impact every area of life from relationships and career advancement to the daily activities that comprise our lives. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a comprehensive approach, looking at how the symptoms affect all aspects of life. In your assessment, Dr. Schilling will start by gathering details of your symptoms and health history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to evaluate both the core symptoms of ADD/ADHD as well as the impact these symptoms have had on your life.
The DIVA is an interviewing tool developed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to assess symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity to sound and specificity. It is also extremely effective in identifying those with the disorder. It has the potential to raise awareness of, and diagnose, adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semi-structured, semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults suffering from ADHD available in the country.
To conduct the DIVA, a trained clinician typically psychologist or psychiatrist will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD such as hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also examine the history of the individual as well as their childhood experiences as well as their impact on their present behavior. This is because the signs of ADHD do not just appear at a moment's notice, they are developed 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 in childhood and adulthood, and how those symptoms have affected the individual's daily functioning in five areas of life - education work, family/partner relationships, family, social activities/leisure time, and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. As a contrast, other screening tools such as the WURS-brief, which was compared to the CAADID which showed poor sensitivity and negative predictive values.
Diagnosis
To diagnose ADHD in adults, it is important to determine the severity of the symptoms and their history. This can be accomplished through an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms and an assessment of neurocognitive capacity. It is crucial to think about the impact these symptoms have on the person's job and daily life. This can be evaluated conducting a structured interview the DIVA and, in certain instances, obtaining information from family and friends.
The DIVA interview is a semistructured interview originally designed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined for use in other countries, including Korea. The study examined the criterion valid of the Korean version (DIVA-5), in a clinical sample consisting of adults with ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor asks about the presence of ADHD symptoms during childhood and adulthood, the age at which the symptoms onset, and the extent of impairment resulting from those symptoms. The clinician also collects diverse set of sociodemographic data and inquires about any psychosis-related comorbidity.
The MINI-S as well as Version 5.0.0 and the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI) along with the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to screen for psychiatric co-morbidity. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD was established by two psychiatrists with experience who utilized the DIVA-5, a structured diagnostic interview, to evaluate symptoms in both the early years and in 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 has 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 DIVA-5's diagnostic accuracy was found to be comparable to the accuracy of clinical diagnosis made by two psychiatrists. This was in agreement with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a major impact on your life. This could be in a variety of aspects, from relationships to academic progress and work to the simple task of organising daily living. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses and also provide treatment options to alleviate your symptoms and cope mechanisms.
A trained psychologist (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will conduct an organized conversation with you using the DIVA-5 instrument to assess your current symptoms. This will consist of standardised questions regarding your levels of hyperactivity, attention deficit and impulsivity. It will also look into your personal history and childhood experiences to give you an accurate picture of your symptoms.
This is essential for ensuring a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. This allows us to better know your symptoms and help you with your treatment.
The DIVA assessment is a highly efficient method of diagnosing adult ADHD, with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been proven 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 concordance validity with these scales, and has reasonable validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Contrary to the more conventional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA test focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that occur both during the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing an easier comparison of sociodemographic traits 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 does not prescribe medication, you may need to schedule an appointment with a Psychiatrist or a paediatrician for a more thorough assessment and/or treatment. You can be referred an expert psychologist for a thorough assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are any co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It offers solutions to persistent issues and opens the way to effective treatment options. However, a thorough evaluation requires the expertise of qualified healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a structured and extensive tool, helps improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by evaluating symptoms across different stages of life. It also detects patterns of behavior that are persistent and aids in distinguishing between ADHD symptoms and other conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
In a DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician conducts a structured interview to ask an array of questions about symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and an impulsiveness. 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 is then utilized to establish a precise diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been validated against other diagnostic tools and shows high sensitivity when compared to the WURS-brief, CAA-DID and an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has a high degree of validity for conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily function such as education and work, relationships with family and home social connections, free time and hobbies.
A valid DIVA assessment requires the participation of the person being evaluated and their close family members and friends. This will help to build trust and strengthen the therapeutic bond that is essential to the success of the assessment.
A psychologist or psychiatrist with experience with the DIVA ADHD assessment can give an extensive, professional report. This report will present the findings of the test and provide a treatment strategy 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 to make an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and can perform an evaluation. adhd assessment uk online can then make an appointment with a specialist to create an effective treatment strategy. Be aware that the treatment plan recommended is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.