ADHD Diagnosis and Assessment
If you suspect you have ADHD You should consult an expert in mental health for an evaluation. You can request a referral from your GP or school, or even a psychologist to someone who specializes in ADHD assessments.
A thorough evaluation of ADHD symptoms requires a detailed interview on the current and retrospectual behavior. DIVA 2.0 is an excellent tool to help with this.
Diagnostic Interview for Adult ADHD - DIVA-5 ID
There is extensive research into the efficacy of various ADHD diagnostic tools, such as behavioral rating scales and cognitive tests There is a lack of studies that specifically study the efficacy of clinical interviews in determining the presence of adult ADHD. This could be due to the difficulties that arise when assessing adults with ADHD, since they usually present differently from children.
The DIVA-5 ADHD Assessment is a semistructured interview which examines adult ADHD by asking patients to give concrete, realistic examples of their past and present behaviours. The DIVA-5 examines the patient's perspective on the impact ADHD has had on their lives which includes issues in relationships or at work. The DIVA-5 also assesses if the symptoms have affected an individual's ability at home.
There are several ADHD screening and diagnostic instruments that include the Conners' ADHD Diagnostic Interview (CAADID), the DIVA 2.0 ADHD Assessment Tool, and the Brown Attention-Deficit disorders Scale. These ADHD assessments all aim to improve ADHD assessment in adults by using structured clinical interviews to better understand the causes and manifestation of adult ADHD.
In the study by Sparrow and co, the DIVA 2.0 showed a very good PPV in identifying people with ADHD when compared to other diagnostic tools for clinical use like the WURS-brief CAADID and a psychiatric diagnosis assessment. When you combine the sensitivity of the DIVA with the specificity of other instruments, like the WURS-brief, BEARNI, and FAB, the total ratio of PPV was 88.9%.
While the DIVA-5 is an acceptable ADHD assessment tool but it is crucial to remember that it's only a screening instrument, and should be used in conjunction with other assessment measures like cognitive tests academic records, as well as family history. Additionally, a psychometric/neuropsychological evaluation can assist with evaluating the extent of cognitive impairment and determining if other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder may be affecting an individual's functioning.
The individualized ADHD assessment at Beyond includes detailed identification of symptom, an explanation of how the symptoms affect everyday life and relationships and treatment options. This could include behavioural intervention and psychoeducation or medication depending on the needs of the individual.
Diagnostic Interview for Adults with Intellectual Disability (DIVA-5ID)
The current gold standard for diagnosing ADHD for people with intellectual disabilities is a clinical interview conducted by an experienced clinician (usually a psychiatrist or psychologist). This includes a thorough review of the symptoms and their impact on daily living. This also includes a discussion about the past experiences and relationships. The data is then used to assess the severity and persistence of ADHD symptoms. This process is highly resource-intensive and requires a significant time commitment, especially in a population that has overlapping mental disorders. This is why misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis are common among this population, leading to unnecessary multi-pharmacy that could have harmful effects.
Clinical interviews can be improved using screening tools like behavioral rating tests and symptom validity tests. However, their use for this particular group of patients is limited due to the fact that a majority of them are unable to take part in the assessment process. Alternatively, family members or professional carers can provide a narrative of the person's symptoms. However, this can bring bias and emotional content to the clinical interview.
The DIVA-5-ID is a device that allows individuals with disabilities intellectual to answer questions regarding their symptoms and how they impact their lives. It is based upon the DSM-5 ADHD criteria and is applicable to different languages. Its development was a response to the challenges of conducting traditional clinical interviews with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
In order to develop the DIVA-5-ID researchers interviewed a number of people with intellectual disabilities who had recently taken an ADHD assessment. Based on this information they devised an algorithm to identify those who are most likely to have ADHD. The algorithm correctly identified all but two people with ADHD. The algorithm was also able to detect non-ADHD symptoms in all but one person.
The DIVA-5 ID has the potential to help improve the diagnosis of ADHD among those with intellectual disabilities by identifying the most likely to be affected. It can be utilized in combination with other diagnostic tests like the WURS-brief or CAADID. he said may also aid in reducing the amount of psychotropic medication prescribed in this vulnerable patient population.
Diagnostic Interview for Adults

ADHD is a condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which affects about 2 percent of adults. It is characterized by problems with attention to impulse control, as well as concentration. It is usually diagnosed by a psychiatrist or mental health specialist. ADHD is a chronic condition that can affect a person in many ways. The condition is also an indicator of anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and other mental illnesses. It is essential that patients are able to manage their condition, and lead a fulfilling life.
The accuracy of the Diva ADHD Screening Tool has been questioned in numerous studies that have evaluated the prevalence of ADHD in adults. The WURS-brief isn't capable of accurately separating people with ADHD and those who do not, and should therefore be employed as a screening tool rather than a diagnosis tool. This study aimed to test a structured diagnostic interview for adults with ADHD (DIVA) in Dutch with the WURS-brief.
DIVA 2.0 is based on the DSM-IV ADHD criteria and is widely used by clinicians. It asks whether ADHD symptoms were present in adulthood or childhood and if they have been persistent for at least six months. It also asks how the symptoms impact the daily life of a person. DIVA 2.0 can be administered by professionals in a variety of languages.
Recent advances in the evaluation of ADHD in adults include the creation of new questions for clinical use and scales for behavior ratings and tests that are symptom-specific, and cognitive tests. These new tools hold promise to improve current assessment methods, but prospective research is required to determine their validity and reliability. In addition, it's important to determine how comorbid conditions can affect self-reporting and neuropsychological performance. A solution to these issues will result in improved diagnosis and treatment for adults with ADHD. In the end, this is a crucial step toward improving the outcomes of patients.
Diagnostic Interview for Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (DIVA-ID)
Adults who seek assistance for ADHD must undergo a comprehensive assessment. This involves a thorough behavioral background, neurocognitive tests and a clinical interview. This interview, usually conducted by a doctor and should concentrate on the current and past behaviors that suggest symptoms of ADHD. This information assists the doctor to establish an assessment. Depending on the diagnosis the patient could be treated with medication, or a different therapy.
The DIVA-5 is a semi-structured diagnostic interview designed to improve the assessments of adults suffering from ADHD. It consists of questions relating to both past and present symptoms, and uses examples from the individual's personal life. It also asks about the severity of the symptoms and their impact on everyday functioning. It is a good criterion and concurrent validity, as well as a high level of diagnostic accuracy.
In addition to assessing the current ADHD symptoms The DIVA-5 also evaluates the severity of the disorder in five areas of daily living. These include work and education; relationships and family life; social contacts; free time/hobbies; and self-confidence/self-image. The evaluation process takes about an hour and an hour and a half. In people with intellectual disability, this can take much longer, particularly if the person requires help from a caregiver.
The study enlisted adults from the outpatient services of eight university hospitals in Seoul which included Kyung Hee University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Chung Ang University Hospital, Nowon Eulji Hospital, and Ewha Womans University Hospital. All participants gave written informed consent. They were aged between 17 to 65 years old. Participants who agreed to take part were scheduled for evaluation and the assessment was conducted in the clinics of participating hospitals. The evaluation process included: the WAIS IV, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the BEARNI, the Short Evaluation of Alcohol Related Neuropsychological Impairment, the FAB, Frontal Assessment Battery, the MINI-S, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview DSM-5 Edition and the DDSI.
Thirteen patients were found to be having ADHD, and seven of them also had an underlying mood disorder. Eight of the remaining patients had a comorbidity anxiety disorder. The ADHD patients were more educated and older than non ADHD patients, and had possibly a higher proportion of females.