DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured, structured interview that has been developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study will evaluate the validity of the criterion used to determine 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 impact every area of life from relationships and career advancement to the daily tasks that are part of our lives. That's why it is so crucial that our ADHD assessments are holistic and look at how the symptoms affect 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 both the core symptoms of ADD/ADHD as well as how they have affected your life.
The DIVA is an interview tool designed by psychiatrists and psychotherapists to assess symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been found to be highly sensitive and precise. It is highly effective at identifying those suffering from the disorder. It can increase awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea as it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic test available in the country.
In order to conduct the DIVA, a trained clinician - often a psychiatrist or psychologist - will inquire about the primary symptoms of ADHD which include hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor will also dig into the person's past, looking at their childhood experiences and how they could have influenced their behavior. The symptoms of ADHD are not sudden. They develop over a time from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood.
The DIVA can efficiently identify those with ADHD, as it takes into consideration both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood and how the symptoms have impacted the individual's daily functioning in five areas of life: education, work, family/partner relations social activities/leisure time and self-esteem and self-confidence. In comparison other screening tools, such as the WURS-brief, which was compared to CAADID which showed poor sensitiveness and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine the presence of ADHD in adults it is crucial to assess the signs and symptoms along with their background. This can be done with an extensive interview about childhood symptoms and an assessment of the neurological. It is crucial to think about the impact that the symptoms have on the person's work and daily life. This can be determined using a structured clinical interview, also known as the DIVA and, in certain instances, getting information from friends and family members.
The DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was initially designed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated for use with adult patients in other countries as well, including Korea. This study looked at the validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in an adult clinical sample with ADHD.
During the DIVA The clinician will inquire about the presence of ADHD symptoms during childhood and into adulthood, the age at which symptoms begin to manifest, and the severity of impairment caused by those symptoms. The doctor will also collect different sociodemographic information and inquire about any psychiatric-related co-morbidity.
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 determine if a psychiatric co-morbidity existed. Two psychiatrists who are experienced used the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to establish a clinical 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 was found to have good concurrent validity with the WURS scale as well as fair concurrent validity with three self-report ratings 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 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 line with the specificity and sensitivity of earlier screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it can greatly impact your life. It can impact your relationships, academic progress and work. It can also impact the way you manage your day-to-day activities. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses and provide treatment options to improve your symptoms and coping mechanism.
A qualified clinician (typically psychiatrists or psychologist) will conduct an organized conversation with you, using the DIVA-5 tool to assess your current symptoms. This will involve regular questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also look into your personal history and childhood experiences to give you an accurate picture of your symptoms.
This method is crucial for a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. This helps us better comprehend your symptoms and guide your treatment.
assessment adhd can be used to identify adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been proven to be valid as a criterion when compared to self-report scales like the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales, and has reasonable validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Unlike the more traditional methods of assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA test focuses on identifying and discussing the symptoms that can be observed in the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing for an accurate comparison between sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. The DIVA assessment also permits consideration of the effect of coexisting disorders on symptoms and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, you might require an appointment with a psychiatrist or a paediatrician for a more thorough assessment and/or treatment. You may be referred to a specialist psychologist for a more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there are co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid disorders like depression and anxiety. This will help your Psychologist suggest a suitable treatment plan.
Getting Started
Getting diagnosed with ADHD can have a profound impact on your life, offering explanations for long-standing issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. However, a good evaluation requires the expertise of qualified medical professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment, a structured and comprehensive tool, helps improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by analyzing symptoms at different life stages. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions which may have similar symptoms in adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In an DIVA ADHD assessment, a doctor conducts an interview to ask several questions regarding symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and an impulsiveness. The doctor evaluates the severity, frequency and duration of these symptoms to determine how they impact the person's life and performance in various settings. This information is then used to create an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA test is confirmed in comparison to other diagnostic tools. It shows high sensitivity compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs, and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has a high degree of validity in conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily functioning such as education and work, relationships with family and home social interactions, free time and hobbies.
A valid DIVA assessment requires the participation of the person being evaluated and their close family members and their friends. This will help build trust and create a therapeutic bond which is important for the success of the evaluation.
A psychiatrist or psychologist with experience in the DIVA ADHD assessment can write a detailed, professional report. This report will present the findings of the assessment and recommend a treatment program that is based on the data.
Please contact us to schedule 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 can provide an assessment. She can then provide a referral to a specialist to develop an effective treatment plan. Be aware that the combination of psychotherapy and medication is the recommended treatment.