The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Diva ADHD Assessment

DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis

DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments for adults. This study aims at evaluating 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

The symptoms of ADD/ADHD can affect all aspects of life, from relationships and career advancement to the daily activities that comprise our lives. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic perspective, looking at how symptoms impact all aspects of our lives. Dr Schilling will begin by evaluating your symptoms and medical history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to examine the main symptoms of ADD/ADHD as well as the impact these symptoms have had on your life.

The DIVA is an instrument for diagnostic interviews developed by psychiatrists and psychologists to assess adult ADHD symptoms. It has been proven to be extremely sensitive and precise. It is highly effective at identifying those suffering from the disorder. It can help raise awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnosis interview available in the country.

A qualified clinician, typically a psychiatrist will inquire about the most prominent symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also dig into the person's past by looking at their early experiences and how those may have affected their current behaviours. This is because the signs of ADHD don't just emerge suddenly, they develop throughout the teen years, and even into 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 individual's daily functioning across five different areas: education, employment, family/partner relationships and leisure/social activities, as well as self-esteem/confidence. Other screening tools, like the WURS brief that was compared to the CAADID demonstrated low sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Diagnosis

To diagnose ADHD in adults, it is essential to evaluate the symptoms and their causes. This can be done with a comprehensive interview on childhood symptoms and a neurological examination. It is important to consider the impact these symptoms have on the individual's work and daily life. This can be evaluated by conducting a structured interview, also known as the DIVA, and in some instances, getting information from friends and family members.

The DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was first developed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated to be used by adults in other countries including Korea. This study examined the validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in an adult clinical sample with ADHD.

During the DIVA the clinician will ask about ADHD symptoms during childhood and adulthood. They will also inquire about the age of onset of symptoms and the extent of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician will also collect various sociodemographic data and inquire about any psychiatric-related co-morbidity.

MINI-S plus Version 5.0.0 The MINI-S plus Version 5.0.0, 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 determined by two psychiatrists with years of experience who utilized the DIVA-5, a structured diagnostic interview, to assess 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. This diagnostic tool has good concurrent validity when compared to the WURS scale, and 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 diagnostic accuracy of the DIVA-5 was found to be similar to the accuracy of a diagnosis formulated by two renowned psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the sensitivity and specificity of previous screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.

Treatment

If you are not diagnosed with ADHD it can greatly affect your life. It can impact your relationships, academic performance as well as your work. It can also affect the way you manage your daily life. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and difficulties, as well as offer treatment options that improve your symptoms and coping mechanisms.

A trained clinician, usually a psychiatrist or psychologist, will conduct a structured interview with you regarding your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. This will involve standardised questions about your levels of hyperactivity, attention deficit and an impulsiveness. It will also look into your personal history including childhood experiences to get an accurate picture of your symptoms.

This method is essential for ensuring a thorough diagnosis of adult ADHD. It also allows us to determine the root of your symptoms, which will help guide your treatment.

The DIVA assessment can be used to determine adult ADHD with high specificity and sensitivity. It has also been proven to be valid as a criterion when compared to self-report scales, such as the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrent validity these scales, and fair validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.

Unlike the more traditional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation focuses on identifying and discussing symptoms that occur both during childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and allowing a more accurate comparison between sociodemographic traits of the two groups. The DIVA evaluation also provides an opportunity to think about the effects of co-occurring disorders on the presentation of ADHD symptoms.

If your Psychologist is not able to recommend medication, it could be necessary to make an appointment with a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for a further assessment and/or therapy. You can be referred to an expert psychologist for a more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there is any co-occurring or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend the best treatment plan.

Getting Started

A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It provides answers to persistent issues and opens the way to effective treatment options. However, a thorough evaluation requires the expertise of experienced medical professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a structured and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of an adult ADHD diagnosis by assessing symptoms across different life stages. It also helps identify patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other disorders that may present similar symptoms for adults, such as depression or anxiety.

In  CAMHS ADHD assessment UK , a practitioner will conduct an organized interview to ask a series of questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The clinician assesses the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect the person in various situations. This information can be used to create an accurate diagnosis.

The DIVA assessment has been validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It has a high sensitivity when compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has a high degree of validity when measuring ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: work and education as well as relationships, home and family social contact; free time and hobbies.

For an authentic DIVA assessment, the individual being evaluated as well as their family and friends need to be present. This helps build trust and create a strong therapeutic bond, which will be essential to the success of your evaluation.

An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who is trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can provide a detailed report. This report will present the results of the assessment and provide a treatment strategy that is based upon evidence.

Please contact us to set up an appointment if you or someone you know might have ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to provide a thorough evaluation. She can then make an appointment with specialists to design an effective treatment strategy. Please be aware that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the recommended treatment.