DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is an interview that is semistructured designed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study will evaluate the validity of the criteria used in 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
ADD/ADHD symptoms affect all aspects of our lives, from relationships to career advancement, and the daily tasks we do. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a comprehensive approach, looking at how the symptoms impact all aspects of our lives. Dr Schilling will begin by evaluating your symptoms and medical history. She will then take the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to evaluate both the core symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the impact these symptoms have had on your life.
The DIVA is an interviewing tool developed by psychiatrists and psychotherapists to evaluate the symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity to sound and a high degree of specificity. It is also extremely efficient in identifying people suffering from the disorder. It is able to raise awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea because it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic test available in the country.
In order to conduct the DIVA A trained professional - often psychologist or psychiatrist will ask questions about the main symptoms of ADHD such as hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also examine the history of the individual and their childhood experiences and their influence on their behavior. The symptoms of ADHD do not appear suddenly. They appear over a long period of time, from childhood to teen years and then into adulthood.
The DIVA is able to effectively detect those suffering from ADHD by taking into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood and how these symptoms have impacted the individual's daily functioning in five different areas of life - education work, family/partner relationships, family social activities/leisure time and self-esteem and self-confidence. Other screening tools, for instance the WURS brief, which was compared with the CAADID revealed low sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine the presence of ADHD in adults it is crucial to assess the symptoms and their history. This can be done by an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms and an assessment of neurocognitive capacity. It is important to consider the impact that these symptoms have on the person's job and daily life. This can be assessed by conducting a structured interview the DIVA and, in some cases, getting information from relatives and friends.
The DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was first developed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated for use with adult patients in other countries including Korea. The study examined the criterion valid of the Korean version (DIVA-5) in an actual clinical sample 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 ask the age at which symptoms first started to manifest symptoms and the level of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician also collects a wide range of sociodemographic data and asks about any psychiatric comorbidity.
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 screen for psychiatric co-morbidity. A diagnosis of clinical ADHD was determined by two psychiatrists with years of experience who utilized the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview 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. This diagnostic tool has good concurrent validity when compared with the WURS scale, and 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 diagnostics was found to be comparable to the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis that were made by two psychiatrists. This was in line with the specificity and sensitivity of previous screening tools, such as the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a significant impact on your daily life. This can affect your relationships, academic performance, and work. It can also impact the way you organize your day-to-day activities. A diagnosis can help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses and also provide treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A licensed professional (typically psychiatrists or psychologist) will conduct a structured conversation with you, using the DIVA-5 instrument to assess your current symptoms. This will consist of regular questions about your levels of hyperactivity, attention deficit and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also look into your personal history including childhood experiences to get the full picture of the symptoms you are experiencing.
This method is essential for a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. This will help us better understand your symptoms and inform your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to diagnose adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been shown to be valid as a criterion when compared with self-report rating scales such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales and fair validity with Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.
The DIVA assessment, in contrast to the more conventional methods of measuring ADHD in adulthood it focuses on identifying signs that occur during childhood and adults. This increases the accuracy of diagnosis and allows a more accurate comparison of sociodemographic traits between the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also gives an opportunity to consider the effect of co-occurring disorders on presentation of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is not able to prescribe medication, it could be necessary to set up an appointment with a Pediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment and/or therapy. You can be referred psychologists who specialize in more in-depth assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring or different diagnoses. This includes assessing co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression. This will enable your Psychologist determine the best treatment plan.
Getting Started
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It provides answers to persistent issues and opens the way to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of qualified healthcare providers. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a well-organized and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of adult ADHD diagnosis by assessing symptoms across various life stages. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior, and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions which may have similar symptoms for adults, such as anxiety or depression.
In adhd assessment of 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 doctor evaluates the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms to determine how they impact the person's life and performance in a variety of settings. This information is then used to develop 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 reliability when it comes to measuring ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: work and education as well as relationships with family and home; social contacts; and leisure 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 a therapeutic bond that will be crucial to the success of the evaluation.
An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who is certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment will be able to provide a detailed report. This report will outline the results of the assessment and suggest a treatment plan that is based on the evidence.
Please contact us to set up an appointment if 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 will refer you to an expert who will create a treatment plan. Be aware that an amalgamation of medication and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment.