DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is an interview with a semistructured format that was developed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study aims to evaluate the criterion validity of 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
The symptoms of ADD/ADHD affect every aspect of our lives, from relationships to advancement in our careers and the daily tasks we do. That's why it is so crucial that our ADHD assessments adopt a holistic approach and look at how the symptoms affect every aspect of our lives. Dr Schilling will begin by assessing your symptoms and medical history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview that is designed to assess both the core symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the impact these symptoms have had on your life.
The DIVA is an instrument for diagnostic interviews created by psychologists and psychiatrists to assess adult ADHD symptoms. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity to sound and specificity. It is extremely effective in identifying those who have the disorder. It can increase 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 inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. The psychologist will also examine the history of the individual as well as their childhood experiences and the influence on their behavior. The symptoms of ADHD don't appear in a flash. They develop over a period of time from childhood through teen years and into adulthood.
The DIVA can be used to detect ADHD because it considers both the DSM-IV ADHD criteria during childhood and into adulthood and how these signs have affected the person's daily functioning across five different areas: education, employment relations with family/partners social activities/leisure, as well as self-esteem/confidence. Other screening tools, like the WURS brief that was compared with the CAADID demonstrated low sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
To diagnose ADHD in adults, it is essential to evaluate the symptoms and their background. This can be accomplished through an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms as well as a neurological examination. It is also essential to look at the effects of the symptoms the person's life and work. This can be assessed by conducting a structured interview, called the DIVA and, in certain cases, obtaining information from friends and family members.
The DIVA is an interview that is semi-structured and was first developed for use with adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined to be used in other countries, including Korea. This study examined the criterion valid of the Korean version (DIVA-5) in the clinical sample of adults suffering from ADHD.
During the DIVA, the clinician asks about the presence of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood, the age at which the symptoms first manifest, as well as the extent of impairment caused by those symptoms. The clinician also collects wide range of sociodemographic data and asks about any psychiatric co-morbidity.
MINI-S as well as 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 clinical diagnosis of ADHD was determined by two psychiatrists with experience who used the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to assess symptoms in both 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. self assessment adhd test was demonstrated to have good concurrent validity with the WURS scale, and 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 accuracy of diagnosis of the DIVA-5 was found to be comparable with the accuracy of a diagnosis established by two expert psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the sensitivity and specificity of earlier screening tools such as ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a major impact on your life. This could be in a variety of areas from your relationships, academic and work progress to the basic tasks of organising daily living. A diagnosis can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, as well as offer treatment options to improve your symptoms and coping mechanism.
A trained clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist will conduct a structured discussion with you regarding your symptoms currently using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. It will include standardised questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention and an impulsiveness. It will also look into your personal history, including childhood experiences, in order to obtain a complete picture of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life.
This approach is essential for a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. It also allows us to determine the root of your symptoms, which will help determine the best treatment for you.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also shown 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 fair validity with Sheehan’s Dysfunction Inventory.
Unlike the more traditional methods for assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA assessment is focused on identifying and discussing symptoms that can be observed in the teen years and into adulthood, increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and allowing for an easier comparison of the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA assessment also permits consideration of the effects of co-existing disorders on the presentation and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, you may need to schedule an appointment with a Psychiatrist or Paediatrician for further evaluation and/or treatment. They can refer you to a specialist Psychologist to conduct an in-depth evaluation of your symptoms and to assess for co-occurring diagnoses and differentials. This includes assessing for comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety. This will enable your Psychologist to suggest an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It offers solutions to persistent issues and opens the door to effective treatment options. However, a good evaluation requires the expertise of qualified medical experts. The DIVA ADHD assessment, which is a structured and extensive tool, helps to improve adult ADHD diagnosis accuracy by analyzing symptoms at various stages of life. 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 anxiety or depression.
In a DIVA ADHD evaluation, a clinician will use a structured interview in order to ask a series of questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The clinician assesses the severity, frequency and duration of these symptoms in order to understand how they impact an individual's life and functioning in various environments. This information can be used to determine an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been confirmed in comparison to other diagnostic tools. It has high sensitivity compared to CAA-DIDs, WURS-briefs, and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has excellent reliability for conducting an assessment of ADHD in five areas of daily functioning such as education and work, relationships home and family social interactions, leisure time and hobbies.
A well-validated DIVA assessment requires the participation of the individual being evaluated and their close family members and their friends. This will help to build trust and create a therapeutic bond which is crucial to the success of the assessment.
A skilled psychologist or psychiatrist who has been certified in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment can give a thorough report. This report will outline the results of the assessment and suggest a treatment plan that is based on the evidence.
If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from ADHD Contact us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessments and can provide a thorough evaluation. She can then provide an appointment with a specialist to create an effective treatment plan. Please be aware that an amalgamation of medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment.