DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study aims at evaluating 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
ADD/ADHD symptoms affect all aspects of our lives from relationships to career advancement and the daily tasks we do. adhd assessment scotland 's why it is so important that our ADHD assessments are holistic, looking at how symptoms impact all areas of life. During your evaluation, Dr. Schilling will begin by obtaining details of your symptoms and health background. She will then take the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview that is designed to assess both the core symptoms of ADD/ADHD as well as how they have affected your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool for diagnosing ADHD. It was developed by psychiatrists and psychologists to evaluate adult ADHD symptoms. It has been proven to have sound sensitivity and specificity. It is highly effective at identifying people suffering from the disorder. It is able to increase awareness and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults suffering from ADHD available in the country.
A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The psychologist will also analyze the history of the individual, including their childhood experiences as well as their impact on their present behavior. The symptoms of ADHD don't appear in a flash. They develop over a period of time from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify those with ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood and how these symptoms have affected the person's daily functioning in five areas of life - education, work, family/partner relations and leisure time/social activities, and self-esteem and self-confidence. Other screening tools, for instance the WURS brief that was compared with the CAADID showed poor sensitivity, and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose ADHD in adults, it is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms and their causes. This can be done through a comprehensive interview on childhood symptoms as well as an assessment of the neurological. It is important to consider the impact that these symptoms have on the person's work and life. This can be evaluated conducting a structured interview the DIVA and, in some instances, obtaining information from relatives and friends.
The DIVA interview is a semistructured, structured interview that was originally designed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been redesigned for use with adult patients in other countries, including Korea. The study examined the criterion valid of the Korean version (DIVA-5) using a clinical sample consisting of patients with ADHD.
During the DIVA the clinician will ask about ADHD symptoms in the early years and in adulthood. They will also ask the age of onset of symptoms and the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician also collects a wide range of sociodemographic data and inquires about any psychosis-related co-morbidity.
The MINI-S and 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 detect psychiatric co-morbidity. A diagnosis of clinical ADHD was determined by two psychiatrists with years of experience who used the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to evaluate symptoms in both the early years and in childhood, and 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 concordance with the WURS scale as well as fair concurrent validity with three self-report rating 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 diagnosis was found to be comparable to the accuracy of a clinical diagnoses that were made by two psychiatrists. This was in line with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it could significantly impact your life. This can affect your relationships, academic performance and work. It can also impact the way you organize your daily life. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A licensed clinician (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will conduct a structured conversation with you, using the DIVA-5 instrument to assess your current symptoms. This will include asking standard questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. It will also delve into your personal history, including childhood experiences, in order to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and their impacts on your life.
This method is essential for ensuring a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. 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 shown to be valid as a criterion when compared to self-report scales such as Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or 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 for assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA assessment focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that can be observed in childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and allowing an accurate comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA assessment also allows for consideration of the effects of coexisting disorders on the manifestation and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist does not recommend medication, you may need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist or Paediatrician for further assessment and/or treatment. You can be referred to psychologists who specialize in more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there are any co-occurring or different diagnoses. This includes assessing comorbid conditions, such as depression or anxiety. This will enable your Psychologist an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It provides answers to persistent problems and opens the door to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of trained healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a structured and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of an adult ADHD diagnosis by evaluating symptoms across different life stages. It also helps identify patterns of behavior that are persistent and helps distinguish between ADHD symptoms and other disorders like anxiety or depression.
In an DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician conducts a structured interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The clinician assesses 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 assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and has shown high sensitivity when compared with the WURS-brief, CAA-DID and the assessment of a psychiatrist. It also has excellent reliability when conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily function that include education and work relationships home and family social connections, free time and hobby.
To be able to conduct an accurate DIVA assessment, the individual being evaluated, their family and friends must be present. This helps to establish trust and create a therapeutic bond that is important to the success of the evaluation.
A psychologist or psychiatrist who has experience with the DIVA ADHD assessment can write a detailed, professional report. This report will present the results of the assessment and provide a treatment strategy that is based on evidence.
Contact us to make an appointment if you suspect you or someone you love might be suffering from ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling is trained in the DIVA ADHD assessment and is able to provide an assessment. She will refer you to a specialist who will formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Be aware that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment.