DIVA ADHD - adhd assessment uk online is a semistructured interview developed to improve ADHD assessment for adults. This study will evaluate the criterion valid of DIVA 2.0 as well as its validity in conjunction 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
ADD/ADHD symptoms impact all aspects of our lives, from relationships to career advancement, and the daily tasks we perform. It is essential that our ADHD assessment takes a holistic view, examining how symptoms affect all aspects of life. Dr. Schilling will begin by assessing your symptoms and medical history. She will then conduct the DIVA 5 assessment. This is a semi-structured interview that evaluates both the core symptoms and the impact of ADD/ADHD your life.
The DIVA is an interview instrument designed by psychotherapists and psychiatrists to determine the signs of adult ADHD. It has been demonstrated to be extremely sensitive and precise. It is extremely effective in identifying those suffering from the disorder. It is able to raise awareness of, and diagnose adult ADHD in Korea, as it is the only validated semi-structured, semi-structured diagnostic interview for adults with ADHD available in the country.
A trained and experienced clinician, typically psychiatrists will ask questions to determine the primary symptoms of ADHD. These include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The psychologist will also look into the individual's history and examine their childhood experiences and how they may influence their present behavior. This is because the signs of ADHD don't just emerge at a moment's notice, they are developed throughout one's childhood, teen years, and even 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 symptoms affect the individual's daily functioning across five areas - employment, education, family/partner relationships social activities/leisure, as well as confidence in oneself. As a contrast other screening tools, like the WURS-brief which was compared to CAADID and showed low sensitivity and negative predictive values.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose ADHD in adults, it is crucial to evaluate the signs and symptoms as well as their history. This can be accomplished through an extensive interview regarding childhood symptoms and a neurocognitive assessment. It is crucial to think about the impact that these symptoms can have on a person's work and daily life. This can be determined using a structured interview, the DIVA and, in certain instances, obtaining information from family members and friends.
The DIVA is an interview that is semi-structured and 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 looked at the criteria applicable to the Korean version (DIVA-5) in an actual clinical sample of patients with ADHD.
During the DIVA The clinician will inquire about the presence of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood, the time at which the symptoms onset, and the extent of impairment resulting from these symptoms. The clinician will also gather various sociodemographic data and ask about any psychiatric co-morbidity.
The MINI-S as well as 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. Two psychiatrists who are experienced employed the structured diagnostic interview DIVA-5 to determine a clinical diagnosis of ADHD. They assessed symptoms in adulthood as well as 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 has good concurrent validity when compared to the WURS scale, and has 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.
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 comparable to that of a clinical diagnosis given by two psychiatrists. This was in line both with the sensitivity and specificity of earlier screening tools such as ASRS and WURS.
Treatment
If you're not aware of ADHD it can greatly affect your life. It can affect many areas, from relationships, academic progress and work to the simple tasks of managing your daily life. A diagnosis can help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses as well as offer treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and mechanisms.
A licensed psychologist (typically a psychiatrist or a psychologist) will conduct a structured conversation with you using the DIVA-5 instrument to assess your current symptoms. This will involve asking standardised questions about your levels inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. It will also explore your personal history, including childhood experiences, to obtain a complete picture of your symptoms and their impact on your life.
This method is essential to 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 shown to have good criterion valid when compared with self-report scales such as Wender Utah Rating Scales (WURS) or the ADHD-Rating Scale. It has a good concordance with these scales, and has good validity with Sheehan's Dysfunction Inventory.
The DIVA assessment, in contrast to more traditional methods of testing ADHD in adulthood, focuses on identifying the symptoms that occur during childhood and into adulthood. This improves the accuracy of diagnosis and allows for a more precise comparison of the sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. The DIVA assessment also allows for consideration of the impact of co-existing disorders on the symptoms and severity of ADHD symptoms.
If your Psychologist is unable to prescribe medication, it could be necessary to make an appointment with a Pediatrician or Psychiatrist for a further assessment and/or therapy. You can be referred an expert psychologist for a more thorough evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if there are any co-occurring diagnoses or differential diagnoses. This includes assessing for co-occurring conditions such as depression and anxiety. This will allow your Psychologist to recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Getting Started
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It offers solutions to long-standing problems and opens the door to effective treatment options. However, a good evaluation requires the expertise of experienced healthcare experts. The DIVA ADHD assessment is a standardized and comprehensive tool that helps to improve the accuracy of an adult ADHD diagnosis by evaluating symptoms across different life stages. It also helps identify patterns of behavior that persist and aids in distinguishing between ADHD symptoms and other disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
In a DIVA ADHD evaluation, a practitioner will conduct an organized interview to ask a series of questions regarding symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and an impulsiveness. The doctor evaluates the intensity, frequency and duration of symptoms to determine how they affect the person in various settings. This information is then used to develop an accurate diagnosis.
The DIVA assessment has been verified against other diagnostic tools and shows high sensitivity when compared to the WURS-brief and CAA-DID as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist. It has also excellent validity for it comes to assessing ADHD in five areas of daily function such as education and work, relationships home and family social connections, leisure time and hobbies.
A valid DIVA assessment requires the participation of the person being evaluated and their close family members and friends. This helps to establish trust and strengthen the therapeutic bond which is essential for the success of the assessment.
A qualified psychologist or psychiatrist who has been skilled 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 recommend a treatment plan based on the evidence.
If you think you or someone you love may be suffering from ADHD, please contact us for an appointment. Our doctor Kate Schilling has been trained in the use of the DIVA ADHD assessments and is able to give a thorough assessment. She can refer you to a specialist who will develop an appropriate treatment plan. Be aware that the recommended treatment approach is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.