DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semistructured interview developed to improve ADHD assessment in adults. This study aims to 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.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ADD/ADHD affect every aspect of our lives from relationships to career advancement, and the daily tasks we do. That's why it is so important that our ADHD assessments are holistic by examining how symptoms impact all areas 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 that examines both the primary symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD on your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool developed by psychiatrists and psychotherapists to determine the signs of adult ADHD. It has been proven to be extremely sensitive and specific. It is also highly effective in identifying individuals suffering from the disorder. It is able to raise awareness of, and the diagnosis of adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults suffering from ADHD available in the country.
A trained and experienced clinician, typically a psychiatrist will inquire about the core symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The psychologist will also look at the history of the individual and their childhood experiences and their impact on their present behavior. The symptoms of ADHD are not sudden. They develop over a period of time from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify those with ADHD by taking into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD in adulthood and childhood and how the symptoms have affected the individual's daily functioning in five different areas of life - education and work, family/partnership relations, social activities/leisure time, and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. Other screening tools, such as the WURS brief that was compared to the CAADID showed poor sensitivity, and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
In order to determine the presence of ADHD in adults, it is crucial to assess the signs and symptoms as well as their history. This can be done by a comprehensive interview about childhood symptoms as well as an assessment of neurocognitive capacity. It is crucial to think about the impact that the symptoms have on the person's work and daily life. This can be determined by conducting a structured interview, the DIVA, and in some cases, obtaining information from family members and friends.
The DIVA interview is a semistructured interview originally designed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined to be used in other countries, including Korea. This study evaluated the criterion validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in an adult clinical sample with ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms during the early years of life and into adulthood. They will also ask the age at which symptoms first started to manifest symptoms and the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms. The doctor also collects a wide range of sociodemographic data and asks about any mental health or comorbidity.
The MINI-S as well as Version 5.0.0 and the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI), as well as the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to detect psychiatric co-morbidity. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD was established by two psychiatrists with experience who used the DIVA-5, a structured diagnostic interview, to determine the severity of symptoms in childhood and adulthood, and to 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 to the WURS scale and has fair validity when compared to three self-report ratings instruments: 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 similar to the accuracy of clinical diagnosis made by two psychiatrists. This was in line both with the sensitivity and specificity of earlier screening tools such as ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a major impact on your life. how do i get my son assessed for adhd can be in many aspects, from relationships to academic progress and work to the simple task of managing your daily life. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide solutions to help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A qualified psychologist (typically psychiatrists or psychologist) will have a structured discussion with you, using the DIVA-5 tool to evaluate your current symptoms. This will involve asking standardised questions regarding your levels of inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also delve into your personal history, including childhood experiences, to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life.
This approach is essential to a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. This helps us better know your symptoms and help you with your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been shown to be valid as a criterion when compared with self-report scales for rating such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrent validity these and good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
The DIVA evaluation, in contrast to more traditional methods of measuring ADHD in adulthood, focuses on identifying symptoms that manifest in childhood and adults. This improves the accuracy of the diagnoses and allows a more accurate comparison of sociodemographic characteristics between the two groups. The DIVA assessment also permits consideration of the effect of coexisting disorders on symptoms and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is not able to prescribe treatment, it might be necessary to make an appointment with a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist to further assess and/or therapy. They can refer you to a specialist Psychologist to conduct an thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to assess for co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing co-occurring conditions, like depression or anxiety. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend the best treatment plan.
Getting Started
Getting diagnosed with ADHD can have a profound impact on your life and provide explanations for lingering problems and opening the door to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expert knowledge of qualified healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment, which is a structured and comprehensive tool, helps to improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by evaluating symptoms at various stages of life. It also helps identify patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms in adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In the DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician conducts a structured interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The clinician assesses the intensity, frequency and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect an person in various settings. This information is then used to create an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and has shown high sensitivity when compared to the WURS-brief and CAA-DID as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has excellent validity when it comes to assessing ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: work and education as well as relationships, family and home social contact; free time and hobbies.
A valid DIVA assessment requires participation from the person being assessed as well as their closest family members and close friends. This helps to establish trust and create a therapeutic bond that is crucial to the success of the evaluation.
A psychiatrist or psychologist with expertise in the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide an in-depth professional report. This report will present the findings of the test and suggest a treatment plan that is based upon evidence.
Please contact us to set up an appointment if you think you or someone you love may have ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and can perform an evaluation. She can refer you to a specialist who will formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Please be aware that the treatment plan recommended is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.