DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis
DIVA is a semi-structured interview that was developed to improve ADHD assessments in adults. This study aims at evaluating 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.
Symptoms
ADD/ADHD symptoms affect all aspects of our lives, from relationships to career advancement, and the daily tasks we do. It is crucial that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic approach, looking at how the symptoms affect all aspects of our lives. During your evaluation, Dr. Schilling will begin by obtaining details of your symptoms and health history. She will then take the DIVA 5 assessment, a semi-structured interview designed to evaluate the primary symptoms of ADD/ADHD and how they have affected your life.
The DIVA is an interviewing tool designed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to evaluate the symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been proven to be highly sensitive and precise. It is also highly effective in identifying individuals suffering from the disorder. It can increase awareness and help diagnose adult ADHD in Korea since it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic test available in the country.
A trained and experienced clinician, typically a psychiatrist will inquire about the core symptoms of ADHD. These include hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The clinician will also analyze the history of the individual as well as their childhood experiences and their influence on their behavior. The symptoms of ADHD do not appear suddenly. They develop over a time from childhood to teenage years and adulthood.
The DIVA can effectively identify those with ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD during childhood and into adulthood, and how those 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. Other screening tools, like the WURS brief that was compared to the CAADID revealed low sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose ADHD in adults, it is important to assess the signs and symptoms as well as their history. This can be done by a comprehensive interview about childhood symptoms as well as an assessment of the neurocognitive. It is also important to consider the effects of the symptoms the person's work and life. This can be assessed through a structured medical interview, also known as the DIVA and, in certain cases, obtaining information from friends and family members.
The DIVA is an interview with a semi-structured format that was initially developed to be used with adults in the Netherlands. It has been updated for use with adult patients in other countries, including Korea. This study evaluated the validity of the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adults with ADHD.
During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms in the early years and in adulthood. They will also ask the age at which they first noticed symptoms and the extent of impairment triggered by these symptoms. The doctor will also collect various sociodemographic data and inquire about any psychiatric co-morbidities.
MINI-S and 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 clinical diagnosis of ADHD was made by two psychiatrists with years of experience who utilized the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview to evaluate symptoms in both childhood and adulthood, and to determine the duration of those 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 shown to have good concordance 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 the DIVA-5's diagnostics was found to be similar to the accuracy of clinical diagnoses given by two psychiatrists. This was in accordance with the sensitivity as well as specificity of earlier screening tools, like ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it can greatly affect your life. This can affect your relationships, academic progress and work. It can also impact the way you organize your daily life. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and also provide treatment options to improve your symptoms and cope mechanisms.
A licensed clinician, usually psychologist or psychiatrist will conduct a structured discussion with you about your current symptoms using the DIVA-5 assessment tool. This will involve standardised questions about your levels of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. It will also explore your personal history, including childhood experiences, in order to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and their impacts on your life.
This method is crucial for a thorough adult ADHD diagnosis. This will help us better know your symptoms and help you with your treatment.
The DIVA assessment can be used to identify adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been proven to have sound criterion validity when compared with self-report rating scales such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has good consistency with these scales, and has good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
Unlike the more traditional methods used to assess ADHD in adults, the DIVA assessment is focused on identifying and discussing the symptoms that can be observed in childhood and adulthood, thereby increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and allowing an accurate comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA evaluation also provides an opportunity to look at the effect of co-occurring conditions on the presentation of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, it may be necessary to set up an appointment with a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment and/or therapy. They can then refer you to an expert Psychologist for more in-depth analysis of your symptoms and to assess for co-occurring diagnoses and differentials. This includes assessing co-occurring conditions, like anxiety or depression. This will help your Psychologist recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
Being diagnosed with ADHD can have a profound impact on your life, offering explanations for long-standing issues and opening doors to effective treatment options. A good evaluation does require the expertise of qualified healthcare providers. 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 helps identify patterns of behavior and distinguishes between ADHD symptoms and other conditions which may have similar symptoms for adults, such as depression or anxiety.
In the DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician uses a structured interview to ask a series of questions about symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. The doctor evaluates the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect the person in various settings. This information can be used to make an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been validated in comparison with other diagnostic tools. It has high sensitivity when compared to WURS-briefs, CAA-DIDs and psychiatrist's assessments. It also has a high degree of reliability when it comes to measuring ADHD symptoms in five areas of daily functioning: education and work as well as relationships, family and home social interactions; free time and leisure.
A well-validated DIVA assessment requires the participation of the individual being assessed as well as their closest family members and close friends. This will help to build trust and create a therapeutic bond which is crucial to the success of the assessment.
An experienced psychologist or psychiatrist who has been trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessment will be able to give a thorough report. This report will present the findings of the test and provide a treatment strategy that is based on the evidence.
Contact us to make an appointment if you suspect you or someone you love might be suffering from ADHD. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to provide a thorough evaluation. She will refer you to a specialist who will develop an appropriate treatment strategy. Please be adhd assessment glasgow that the treatment plan recommended is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.