DIVA ADHD - Improving Adult ADHD Diagnosis<br /><br />DIVA is an interview with a semistructured format that was developed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study is aimed at assessing the validity of the criterion used to determine DIVA 2.0 and its validity in conjunction with Conners Adult ADHD Diagnosis Interview for DSM-IV criteria.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Signs and symptoms<br /><br />ADD/ADHD symptoms affect all aspects of our lives from relationships to advancement in our careers and the everyday tasks we have to perform. It is essential that our ADHD assessment is a holistic perspective, looking at how symptoms affect all aspects of life. Dr. Schilling will begin by assessing your symptoms and medical history. She will then conduct a DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured interview which evaluates both the main symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD on your life.<br /><br />The DIVA is an interviewing tool developed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to evaluate the symptoms of adult ADHD. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity to sound and specificity. It is highly effective at identifying people suffering from the disorder. It can help raise awareness and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea because it is the only validated semistructured diagnostic interview available in the country.<br /><br />To conduct <a href="https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment">adhd assessment</a> trained clinician usually psychologists or psychiatrists will ask questions about the core symptoms of ADHD which include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The clinician will also look at the history of the individual, including their childhood experiences and their influence on their behavior. This is because the signs of ADHD do not just appear in a flash, they manifest throughout one's childhood, teen years, and even into adulthood.<br /><br />The DIVA can effectively identify those with ADHD because it takes into account both the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD in childhood and adulthood and how the symptoms have affected an individual's daily functioning in five distinct areas of life - education, work, family/partner relations and leisure time/social activities, and self-esteem and self-confidence. Contrary to this, other screening tools such as the WURS-brief which was compared to the CAADID, showed poor sensitiveness and negative predictive value.<br /><br />Diagnosis<br /><br />To diagnose ADHD in adults, it is important that you evaluate the symptoms as well as their history. This can be done by a comprehensive interview about childhood symptoms and an assessment of neurocognitive capacity. It is also crucial to assess the impact of the symptoms on the person's work and life. This can be assessed using a structured clinical interview, also known as the DIVA, and in some instances, asking for information from friends and family members.<br /><br />The DIVA interview is a semistructured, structured interview that was originally designed for adults in the Netherlands. It has been refined for use in other countries, including Korea. This study evaluated the validity of the criterion used to determine the Korean version of DIVA (DIVA-5) in a clinical sample of adults with ADHD.<br /><br />During the DIVA the doctor will inquire about ADHD symptoms during the early years of life and into adulthood. They will also ask the age of onset of symptoms and the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms. The clinician also collects a diverse set of sociodemographic data and inquires about any psychiatric or comorbidity.<br /><br />The MINI-S as well as 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 with experience used the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 in order to determine a clinical diagnosis of ADHD. They assessed symptoms both in adulthood and childhood and determined the length of symptoms.<br /><br />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 fair validity when compared to three self-report ratings instruments which include the ASRS (self-report rating), FAB (self-report rating) and Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.<br /><br />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 comparable to the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis that were made by two psychiatrists. This was in agreement with the specificity and sensitivity of previous screening tools like the ASRS and the WURS.<br /><br />Treatment<br /><br />Undiagnosed ADHD can have a significant impact on your life. This can affect your relationships, academic performance and work. It can also impact the way you manage your daily life. A diagnosis can help you identify your strengths and difficulties, as well as offer solutions to improve your symptoms and coping mechanisms.<br /><br />A licensed psychologist (typically psychiatrists or psychologist) will have a structured discussion with you, using the DIVA-5 instrument to assess your current symptoms. This will involve regular questions about your levels of hyperactivity, attention deficit and impulsivity. It will also look into your personal history, including your childhood experiences, to gain a complete understanding of your symptoms and their impact on your life.<br /><br />This method is crucial to a complete adult ADHD diagnosis. It also helps us identify the root cause of your symptoms, which can help determine the best treatment for you.<br /><br /><br /><br />The DIVA assessment can be used to diagnose adult ADHD with high sensitivity and specificity. It has also been shown to be valid as a criterion when compared to self-report rating scales such as the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales, and has good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.<br /><br />Contrary to the more conventional methods for assessing ADHD in adults, the DIVA test 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 accurate comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics of both groups. The DIVA evaluation also provides an opportunity to think about the impact of co-occurring disorders on the appearance of ADHD symptoms.<br /><br />If your Psychologist is not able to prescribe medication, it may be necessary to set up an appointment with a Pediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment and/or therapy. They can then 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 anxiety and depression. This will help your Psychologist suggest a suitable treatment plan.<br /><br />Getting Started<br /><br />A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It provides answers to persistent issues and opens the door to effective treatment options. However, a reliable assessment requires the expertise of experienced medical experts. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a well-organized and comprehensive tool that helps 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 conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms in adults, like depression or anxiety.<br /><br />In an DIVA ADHD assessment, a clinician uses a structured interview to ask an array of questions about symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The doctor evaluates the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms in order to understand how they impact the person's life and performance in several situations. This information can then be used to develop an accurate diagnosis.<br /><br />The DIVA assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and has shown high sensitivity when compared with the WURS-brief, CAA-DID and a psychiatrist's assessment. It also has excellent reliability for assessing ADHD in five areas of daily functioning: work and education, relationships with family and home social interactions, free time and hobby.<br /><br />For a valid DIVA assessment, the person being evaluated, their family and friends need to be present. This helps to establish trust and strengthen the therapeutic bond which is important for the success of the assessment.<br /><br />A psychiatrist or psychologist with experience in the DIVA ADHD assessment can give an extensive, professional report. This report will present the results of the assessment and suggest a treatment plan that is based upon evidence.<br /><br />If you suspect that you or someone you love might have ADHD If you suspect that someone you know may have ADHD, please call us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to give a thorough assessment. She can then provide an appointment with a specialist to create an effective treatment plan. Be aware that the treatment plan recommended is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.<br /><br />