DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study will evaluate 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.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of ADD/ADHD affect all aspects of life from relationships and career advancement to the day-to-day tasks that are part of our lives. It is essential that our ADHD assessment is a holistic approach, looking at how the symptoms affect all aspects of life. Dr. Schilling will begin by assessing 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 an interviewing instrument designed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to evaluate the symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been proven to be extremely sensitive and precise. It is extremely effective in identifying those who have the disorder. It is able to raise awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnosis interview available in the country.
A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist, will ask questions to determine the primary symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also examine the history of the individual, including their childhood experiences as well as their impact on their current behaviours. This is because the signs of ADHD do not just appear in a flash, they manifest through the teenage years, and even into adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify those with ADHD, as it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD in adulthood and childhood, and how those symptoms have affected the individual's daily functioning in five different areas of life - education, work, family/partner relations and leisure time/social activities, and self-esteem and self-confidence. As a contrast other screening tools, such as the WURS-brief, which was compared to the CAADID and showed low accuracy and negative predictive values.
Diagnosis
In order to determine the presence of ADHD in adults, it is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms and their causes. This can be accomplished through an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms and an assessment of the neurocognitive. It is also essential to consider the effects of the symptoms the individual's life and work. This can be evaluated using a structured clinical interview, called the DIVA, and in some instances, getting information from family members and friends.
The DIVA interview is a semistructured, structured interview that was originally developed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been redesigned to be used with adult patients in other countries as well, including Korea. This study examined the criterion that is valid for the Korean version (DIVA-5) using a clinical sample consisting of adults suffering from ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms during the early years and in adulthood. They will also inquire about the age of onset of symptoms and the degree of impairment triggered by these symptoms. The clinician will also gather different sociodemographic information and inquire about any psychiatric-related co-morbidity.
The MINI-S plus Version 5.0.0 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 years of experience who utilized the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to assess symptoms in both 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. The diagnostic tool was demonstrated to have good concurrent validity with the WURS scale and fair concurrent validity with three self-report ratings 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 accuracy of the DIVA-5's diagnostics was found to be comparable to the accuracy of a clinical diagnoses that were made by two psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools, such as the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it could significantly affect your life. This can be in many areas, from relationships, work and academic progress to the simple task of organising daily living. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and offer treatment options to improve your symptoms and provide coping mechanisms.
A licensed clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist, will conduct an in-depth interview with you regarding your current symptoms using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. This will involve asking standardised questions regarding your levels of inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also look into your personal history including your childhood experiences to create an accurate picture of the symptoms you are experiencing.
This method is essential to ensure a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. This allows us to better comprehend your symptoms and guide your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high specificity and sensitivity. It has also shown to be valid as a criterion when compared to self-report scales like the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrency with these scales and has good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Contrary to the more conventional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that can be observed in the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and enabling an easier comparison of sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also offers an opportunity to consider the impact of co-occurring conditions on the manifestation of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist cannot prescribe medication, you may need to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist or a Paediatrician to discuss further evaluation and/or treatment. You can be referred a specialist psychologist for a more in-depth assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are any co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. 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 problems and opens the way to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of qualified healthcare providers. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a well-structured and extensive tool, helps to improve the 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 disorders like anxiety or depression.
In the DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician conducts a structured interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. The clinician evaluates the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms to determine the extent to which they affect the person in various settings. This information can be used to make an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA test is confirmed in comparison to other diagnostic tools. how do i get an adhd assessment has a high sensitivity in comparison to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has excellent reliability in assessing ADHD in five areas of daily function that include education and work relationships, home and family social connections, free time and hobby.
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 create a strong therapeutic connection, which is crucial to the success of your evaluation.
A psychologist or psychiatrist who has expertise in the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide an in-depth professional report. This report will present the results of the assessment and suggest a treatment plan that is based on evidence.
Please contact us to set up an appointment if you or someone you love might have ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of DIVA ADHD assessments and can provide a thorough evaluation. She will refer you to an expert who will create a treatment plan. Please be aware that the combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best treatment.