DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study aims to evaluate the validity of the criterion used in 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
ADD/ADHD symptoms impact all aspects of our lives, from relationships to career advancement and the daily tasks we do. It is important that our ADHD assessment is a holistic approach, looking at how the symptoms affect all aspects of life. During your assessment, Dr Schilling will begin by obtaining information about your symptoms and health history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to evaluate the main symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and how they have affected your life.
The DIVA is an interviewing tool designed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to determine the signs of adult ADHD. It has been proven to be highly sensitive and precise. It is extremely effective in identifying those suffering from the disorder. It is able to raise awareness of, and diagnosis of adult ADHD in Korea because it is the only validated semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults with ADHD available in the country.
To perform the DIVA A trained professional typically psychologists or psychiatrists will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD such as inattention, hyperactivity, and the tendency to be impulsive. The clinician will also delve into the background of the individual by looking at their early experiences and how they could have influenced their behavior. The symptoms of ADHD do not appear suddenly. They develop over a period of time from childhood to teenage years and adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify people suffering from ADHD by taking into consideration both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD in adulthood and childhood and how the symptoms have affected the individual's daily functioning in five distinct areas of life: education work, family/partner relationships, family and leisure time/social activities, and self-esteem and confidence in oneself. As a contrast, other screening tools such as the WURS-brief, which was compared with the CAADID which showed poor sensitiveness and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine ADHD in adults, it is crucial to assess the symptoms as well as their background. This can be done through an extensive interview about childhood symptoms and an assessment of the neurological. It is important to consider the impact these symptoms have on the person's job and daily life. This can be determined by conducting a structured interview, called the DIVA and, in certain instances, getting information from friends and family members.
The DIVA is an interview with a semi-structured format that was initially designed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been re-edited for use in other countries, including Korea. The study examined the criterion applicable to the Korean version (DIVA-5) using a clinical sample consisting of adults with ADHD.
During the DIVA the clinician will ask about ADHD symptoms in the early years and in adulthood. They will also inquire about the age at which symptoms first started to manifest symptoms and the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician also collects a diverse set of sociodemographic data and asks about any psychiatric comorbidity.
The MINI-S plus Version 5.0.0 and the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI), along with the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to determine if a psychiatric co-morbidity existed. A diagnosis of clinical ADHD was made by two psychiatrists with experience who used the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to assess symptoms in both adulthood and childhood and determine the duration of those 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 with three self-report ratings instruments which 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 the DIVA-5's diagnosis was found to be comparable to that of a clinical diagnosis given by two psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the sensitivity as well as specificity of earlier screening tools, such as ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a major impact on your daily life. This can be in many areas from your relationships, academic and work progress to the simple tasks of organising your day-to-day life. A diagnosis can help identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide treatment options to alleviate your symptoms and cope mechanisms.
A licensed clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist will conduct a structured interview with you about your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. It will ask you standard questions about your levels hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. It will also examine your personal history, including childhood experiences to give you an accurate picture of the symptoms you are experiencing.
get an adhd assessment is crucial to a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. This helps us better comprehend your symptoms and guide your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to determine adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been shown to have sound criterion validity, when compared to self-report scales for rating such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good consistency with these scales and reasonable validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
In contrast to the more conventional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA test is focused on identifying and discussing symptoms that are present in both the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing a more accurate comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA assessment can also be used to assess the impact of coexisting disorders on the symptoms and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to recommend treatment, it might be necessary to make an appointment with a pediatrician or Psychiatrist to further assess and/or therapy. You can be referred to psychologists who specialize in thorough assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing comorbid conditions, such as depression or anxiety. This will enable your Psychologist the best treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can have a profound impact on your life and provide explanations for lingering issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. However, a good evaluation requires the expertise of experienced healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a well-structured and comprehensive tool, helps improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by evaluating symptoms at various stages of life. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions which may have similar symptoms in adults, like anxiety or depression.
In a DIVA ADHD evaluation, a practitioner will conduct an organized interview to ask a series of questions about the symptoms like hyperactivity, inattention, and an impulsiveness. The clinician evaluates the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect an person in various settings. This information can then be used to create an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been confirmed in comparison to other diagnostic tools. It shows high sensitivity compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs and psychiatrist's tests. It also has high reliability when it comes to measuring ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: education and work as well as relationships with home and family social contact; free time and leisure.
A well-validated DIVA assessment requires the participation of the individual being assessed as well as their closest family members and close friends. This will help establish trust and create a strong therapeutic connection, which is essential to the success of your assessment.
A psychologist or psychiatrist who has experience in the DIVA ADHD assessment can give an extensive professional report. This report will present the findings of the test and suggest a treatment plan that is based on the evidence.
Please contact us to schedule an appointment if you suspect you or someone you love may be suffering from ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and can provide an assessment. She can then make a referral to specialists to design an effective treatment strategy. Please be aware that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best treatment.