DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview designed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study is aimed at assessing the validity of the criteria used in DIVA 2.0 and 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 impact all aspects of our lives from relationships to career advancement, and the everyday tasks we have to perform. That's why it is so crucial that our ADHD assessments take a holistic approach and look at how the symptoms impact all areas of our lives. During your assessment, Dr Schilling will start by gathering details about your symptoms as well as health background. She will then take the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview that is designed to assess the primary symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the impact these symptoms have had on your life.
The DIVA is an instrument for diagnostic interviews developed by psychiatrists and psychologists to evaluate adult ADHD symptoms. It has been found to be highly sensitive and specific. It is extremely effective in identifying those who have the disorder. It is able to increase awareness of, and diagnosis of the condition of adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semi-structured, semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults with ADHD available in the country.
To conduct the DIVA the trained clinician typically a psychiatrist or psychologist - will ask questions about the core symptoms of ADHD, including hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also analyze the background of the person as well as their childhood experiences and the impact on their present behavior. This is because the symptoms of ADHD do not just appear at a moment's notice, they are developed through the teenage years, and through adulthood.
The DIVA is able to effectively detect those suffering from ADHD, as it takes into consideration both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD in adulthood and childhood, and how those 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, showed poor sensitiveness and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine ADHD in adults it is essential to evaluate the symptoms and their history. This can be done by conducting a thorough interview about childhood symptoms as well as a neurocognitive assessment. It is also essential to consider the effects of the symptoms on the person's work and life. This can be assessed through a structured medical interview, the DIVA, and in some instances, getting information from family members and friends.
The DIVA is an interview that is semi-structured and was initially developed to be used with adults in the Netherlands. It has been revised for use in other countries including Korea. The study examined the criterion that is valid for the Korean version (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample consisting of adults with ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor asks about the presence of ADHD symptoms in childhood and into adulthood, the time at which the symptoms first manifest, as well as the extent of impairment resulting from these symptoms. The clinician will also collect a variety of sociodemographic information and inquire about any psychiatric co-morbidity.
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 clinical diagnosis of ADHD was determined by two experienced psychiatrists who utilized the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to determine the severity of symptoms in 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 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 the DIVA-5's diagnosis was found to be comparable to the accuracy of clinical diagnosis that were made by two psychiatrists. This was in line both with the sensitivity and specificity of earlier screening tools, such as ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
If you have an undiagnosed ADHD it could significantly impact your life. This can affect your relationships, academic progress as well as your work. It can also affect how you organize your day-to-day activities. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses as well as offer treatment options to improve your symptoms and provide coping mechanisms.
A licensed clinician, usually a psychiatrist or psychologist, will conduct an in-depth interview with you regarding your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. It will ask you standard questions about your levels inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It will also explore your personal history, including childhood experiences, to obtain a complete picture of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life.
This is essential for ensuring a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. It also helps us determine the root of your symptoms, which will help guide your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify 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 like the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales and good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Contrary to the more conventional methods for assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that occur both during childhood and in adulthood, thus increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing for an accurate comparison between sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also gives an opportunity to look at the effects of co-occurring disorders on presentation of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to recommend medication, you may require an appointment with a psychiatrist or a Paediatrician to discuss further assessment and/or treatment. You can be referred to an expert psychologist for a thorough assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring or different diagnoses. This includes assessing any comorbid disorders, such as depression or anxiety. This will enable your Psychologist determine the best treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can have a profound impact on your life providing explanations for long-standing issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of trained healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a standardized and comprehensive tool that can help to improve the accuracy of an adult ADHD diagnosis by assessing symptoms across different life stages. It also detects patterns of behavior that persist and aids in distinguishing between ADHD symptoms and other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician uses a structured interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and an impulsiveness. The clinician evaluates the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect the individual in different settings. This information can then be used to develop an accurate diagnosis.
index has been verified against other diagnostic tools and shows high sensitivity when compared to the WURS-brief and CAA-DID as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has excellent reliability for it comes to assessing ADHD in five areas of daily functioning such as education and work, relationships home and family, social contacts, and free time and hobbies.
To be able to conduct a valid DIVA assessment, the person being evaluated, their family and friends must be present. This will help build trust and strengthen the therapeutic bond that is essential to the success of the evaluation.
A skilled psychologist or psychiatrist who is skilled in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide a detailed report. The report will detail the findings of the test and recommend a treatment program based on the evidence.
Please contact us to set up an appointment if you or someone you love may be suffering from ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessments and can provide a thorough evaluation. She can refer you to a specialist who will formulate an appropriate treatment strategy. Please be aware that an amalgamation of medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment.