DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study is aimed at assessing the validity of the criterion used to determine DIVA 2.0 as well as its concomitant validity with Conners Adult ADHD Diagnosis Interview for DSM-IV 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 every area of life, from relationships and career progression to the everyday tasks that are part of our lives. That's why it is so important that our ADHD assessments are holistic by examining how symptoms impact all areas of our lives. During your assessment, Dr Schilling will begin by obtaining details of your symptoms and health history. She will then conduct a DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured interview which evaluates both the main symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool developed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to determine the signs of adult ADHD. It has been proven to be highly sensitive and specific. It is also highly effective in identifying individuals suffering from the disorder. It has the potential to increase awareness of, and diagnose, adult ADHD in Korea, as it is the only validated semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults with ADHD available in the country.
A trained clinician, usually a psychiatrist will inquire about the core symptoms of ADHD. These include inattention, hyperactivity and an impulsive nature. The psychologist will also look at the background of the person and their childhood experiences as well as their impact on their present behavior. This is because the symptoms of ADHD aren't something that just happens to appear in a flash, they manifest throughout one's childhood, teen years, and through adulthood.
The DIVA can detect ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV ADHD criteria in the early years and later in adulthood and how these signs have affected the person's daily functioning across five different areas: education, employment relations with family/partners, social activities/leisure, and confidence and self-esteem. Contrary to this 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 essential to evaluate the signs and symptoms along with their background. This can be accomplished through an extensive interview about childhood symptoms as well as a neurological examination. It is essential to take into consideration the impact that the symptoms have on the person's work and daily life. This can be assessed using a structured clinical interview, the DIVA and, in certain 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 revised to be used in other countries including Korea. This study evaluated the validity of the criterion used to determine the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adult patients with ADHD.
During Related Web Page asks about the presence of ADHD symptoms during childhood and into adulthood, the time at which the symptoms onset, and the extent of impairment caused by those symptoms. The doctor will also collect a variety of sociodemographic information and ask about any psychiatric-related co-morbidity.
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 screen for psychiatric co-morbidity. Two psychiatrists who are experienced used the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to establish a diagnosis of ADHD. They assessed symptoms both in adulthood and childhood, and determined the duration of 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: 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 diagnosing ADHD with the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with that of a clinical diagnosis formulated by two renowned psychiatrists. This was in agreement with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools such as the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a significant impact on your daily life. It can affect many aspects, from relationships to work and academic progress to the simple task of organising your day-to-day life. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as well as provide treatment options that help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A trained clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist, will conduct an in-depth interview with you regarding your current symptoms using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. It will ask you standard questions regarding your levels of hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also examine your personal history including childhood experiences to get a complete picture of your symptoms.
This method is crucial for a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. It also allows us to understand the root causes of your symptoms, which can help guide your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high specificity and sensitivity. It has also been shown to be valid as a criterion when compared with self-report rating scales like the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrent validity with these and fair validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
The DIVA evaluation, unlike the more conventional methods of testing ADHD in adulthood, focuses on identifying the symptoms that occur during childhood and adults. This increases the accuracy of diagnosis and allows for a more accurate comparison of sociodemographic characteristics between the two groups. The DIVA assessment can also be used to assess the effect of co-existing disorders on the manifestation and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist does not prescribe medication, you might need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist or a paediatrician for a more thorough evaluation and/or treatment. You may be referred to an expert 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 co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression. This will help your Psychologist recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing, offering explanations for long-standing problems and opening the door to effective treatment options. However, a good evaluation requires the expertise of qualified healthcare experts. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a standardized and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of adult ADHD diagnosis by assessing symptoms across various life stages. It also detects patterns of behavior that persist of behavior and differentiates between ADHD symptoms and other conditions that may present similar symptoms in adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD evaluation, a practitioner will conduct an organized interview to ask a series questions about the symptoms like hyperactivity, inattention, and an impulsiveness. The clinician assesses the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms in order to understand how they impact the individual's life and how they function in a variety of situations. This information can be utilized to establish a precise diagnosis.
The DIVA test is validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It has a high sensitivity when compared to WURS-briefs, CAA-DIDs and psychiatrist's tests. It also has a high degree of accuracy when it comes to assessing ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: education and work as well as relationships, home and family; social contacts; and free time and hobbies.
To be able to conduct an authentic DIVA assessment, the individual being evaluated, their family and friends need to be present. This will help establish trust and a strong therapeutic connection, which is crucial to the success of your evaluation.
A skilled psychiatrist or psychologist who is certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment will be able to provide a comprehensive report. This report will outline the findings of the test and recommend a treatment plan that is based upon evidence.
Please contact us to set up an appointment if you suspect you or someone you know might have ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and is able to provide an assessment. She can refer you to a specialist who will formulate a treatment strategy. Be aware that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the recommended treatment.