DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured interview designed to enhance ADHD assessments for adults. This study will evaluate the validity of the criterion used in DIVA 2.0 and its concurrent validity in comparison with Conners Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV (CAADID) 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. This is why it's important that our ADHD assessments adopt a holistic approach by examining how symptoms affect all aspects of life. During your assessment, Dr Schilling will begin by collecting details of your symptoms and health history. She will then conduct an DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured, interview which evaluates both the main symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD your life.
The DIVA is a diagnostic interview tool developed by psychiatrists and psychologists to evaluate adult ADHD symptoms. It has been proven to have high sensitivity and specificity. It is also extremely effective in identifying those with the disorder. It can increase awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic interview available in the country.
In order to conduct the DIVA the trained clinician - often psychologists or psychiatrists will ask questions about the main symptoms of ADHD, including inattention, hyperactivity and an impulsive nature. The psychologist will also analyze the history of the individual and their childhood experiences and the impact on their present behavior. This is because the symptoms of ADHD do not just appear suddenly, they develop through the teenage years, and through adulthood.
The DIVA is able to effectively identify people suffering from ADHD, as it takes into account 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 relations, social activities/leisure time, and self-esteem and self-confidence. Other screening tools, such as the WURS brief, which was compared with the CAADID revealed low sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To determine ADHD in adults, it is crucial to assess the symptoms and their history. This can be done with an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms and a neurological examination. It is also important to consider the effects of the symptoms the person's work and life. This can be determined through a structured medical interview, called the DIVA and, in certain instances, asking for information from friends and family members.
The DIVA is an interview with a semi-structured format that was first developed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined to be used in other countries including Korea. read article 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 asks about the presence of ADHD symptoms during childhood and 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 ask about any psychiatric co-morbidities.
The MINI-S as well as Version 5.0.0 and the Brief Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impaired Screening Instrument (BEARNI), and the Frontal Assessment Battery were used to determine if a psychiatric co-morbidity existed. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD was established by two psychiatrists with experience who utilized the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to assess symptoms in both adulthood and 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 with the WURS scale and has fair validity when compared to 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 similar to the accuracy of clinical diagnosis made by two psychiatrists. This was in line with the sensitivity as well as specificity of earlier screening tools like ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
If you are not diagnosed with ADHD it can greatly affect your life. This can affect your relationships, academic performance as well as your work. It can also impact the way you manage your day-to-day activities. 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 qualified professional (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will conduct an organized 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 an impulsiveness. It will also examine your personal history and childhood experiences to get an accurate picture of the symptoms you are experiencing.
This is essential to ensure a complete diagnosis of adult ADHD. This will help us better comprehend your symptoms and guide your treatment.
The DIVA assessment is a highly efficient method of diagnosing adult ADHD, with excellent sensitivity and specificity. It has also been proven to be a good criterion-validated test when compared with self-report scales like the Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good concurrent validity these scales, and good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Contrary to the more conventional methods used to assess ADHD in adults, the DIVA evaluation is focused on identifying and discussing symptoms that can be observed in the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and allowing for an easier comparison of the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA assessment can also be used to assess the effects of coexisting disorders on the presentation and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is not able to recommend medication, it may be necessary to set up an appointment with a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment and/or therapy. You may be referred to psychologists who specialize in more in-depth assessment of your symptoms and to determine if there is any co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be life-changing and provide explanations for lingering issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. A successful evaluation requires the expertise of trained healthcare professionals. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a well-organized and extensive tool that assists to improve the accuracy of an adult ADHD diagnosis by evaluating symptoms across different life stages. It also identifies persistent patterns of behavior, and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and those of other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms for adults, such as anxiety or depression.
In the course of a DIVA ADHD evaluation, a clinician will use an organized interview to ask a series of questions about symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor evaluates the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms to determine how they impact on the person's life and performance in various situations. This information can be utilized to establish a precise diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and exhibits high sensitivity when compared with the WURS-brief and CAA-DID as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist. It also has a high degree of validity for assessing ADHD in five areas of daily function: work and education, relationships home and family, social contacts, and free time and hobby.
To be able to conduct an accurate DIVA assessment, the individual being assessed and their family and friends must be present. This will help build trust and create a therapeutic bond that will be crucial for the success of the assessment.
A psychologist or psychiatrist who has experience in the DIVA ADHD assessment can write an in-depth professional report. The report will detail the findings of the test and recommend a treatment plan that is based on the evidence.
If you suspect that you or someone you love might be suffering from ADHD, please contact us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained to use the DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to give a thorough assessment. She will refer you to a specialist who will develop a treatment plan. Be aware that the treatment plan recommended is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.