Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA) - Version 2 - Instructions for performing the DIVA

Sep 22, 2026

The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA) is a structured interview guide aligned with DSM-IV criteria to help determine adult ADHD diagnosis based on symptom onset in childhood and persistent impairment across life. It explains key requirements for diagnosis, including childhood-retrospective evaluation and collateral input from informants. DIVA 2.0 details the interview’s core symptom domains, practical scoring approach for 18 criteria, and guidance for completing attention deficit and hyperactivity/impulsivity sections in adults and childhood.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA)

DIVA 2.0 Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults

Instructions for performing the DIVA

ENGLISH DIVA 2.0 Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA) D iagnostisch I nterview V oor A DHD bij volwassenen diagnostic interview for ADHD in adults J.J.S. Kooij, MD, PhD & M. H. Francken, MSc 2010, DIVA Foundation, The Netherlands Colophon The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA) is a publication of the DIVA Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands, August 2010. The original English translation by Vertaalbureau Boot was supported by Janssen-Cilag B.V. Backtranslation into Dutch by Sietske Helder. Revison by dr. J.J.S. Kooij, DIVA Foundation and Prof. Philip Asherson, Institute of Psychiatry, London. Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Revision, Fourth Edition (Copyright 2000) . American Psychiatric Association. This publication has been put together with care. However, over the course of time, parts of this publication might change. For that reason, no rights may be derived from this publication. For more information and future updates of the DIVA please visit [www.divacenter.eu](www.divacenter.eu). 2 Introduction According to the DSM-IV, ascertaining the diagnosis of ADHD in adults involves determining the presence of ADHD symptoms during both childhood and adulthood. The main requirements for the diagnosis are that the onset of ADHD symptoms occurred during childhood and that this was followed by a lifelong persistence of the characteristic symptoms to the time of the current evaluation. The symptoms need to be associated with significant clinical or psychosocial impairments that affect the individual in two or more life situations1. Because ADHD in adults is a lifelong condition that starts in childhood, it is necessary to evaluate the symptoms, course and level of associated impairment in childhood, using a retrospective interview for childhood behaviours. Whenever possible the information should be gathered from the patient and supplemented by information from informants that knew the person as a child (usually parents or close relatives)2. The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA) The DIVA is based on the DSM-IV criteria and is the first structured Dutch interview for ADHD in adults. The DIVA has been developed by J.J.S. Kooij and M. H. Francken and is the successor of the earlier Semi-Structured Interview for ADHD in adults2,3 . In order to simplify the evaluation of each of the 18 symptom criteria for ADHD, in childhood and adulthood, the interview provides a list of concrete and realistic examples, for both current and retrospective (childhood) behaviour. The examples are based on the common descriptions provided by adult patients in clinical practice. Examples are also provided of the types of impairments that are commonly associated with the symptoms in five areas of everyday life: work and education; relationships and family life; social contacts; free time and hobbies; self-confidence and self-image. Whenever possible the DIVA should be completed with adults in the presence of a partner and/or family member, to enable retrospective and collateral information to be ascertained at the same time. The DIVA usually takes around one and a half hours to complete. The DIVA only asks about the core symptoms of ADHD required to make the DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, and does not ask about other co-occurring psychiatric symptoms, syndromes or disorders. However comorbidity is commonly seen in both children and adults with ADHD, in around 75% of cases. For this reason, it is important to complete a general psychiatric assessment to enquire about commonly co-occurring symptoms, syndromesand disorders. The most common mental health problems that accompany ADHD include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorders and addiction, sleep problems and personality disorders, and all these should be investigated. This is needed to understand the full range of symptoms experienced by the individual wit

FAQs

What are the core requirements for diagnosing ADHD in adults using DIVA?

DIVA emphasizes that ADHD symptoms must have begun in childhood and shown lifelong persistence into adulthood, along with significant clinical or psychosocial impairments in two or more life situations.

How does DIVA evaluate symptoms in both adulthood and childhood?

For each of the 18 DSM-IV symptom criteria, the interviewer first asks whether the symptom was present in adulthood (last 6 months or more) and then asks about the same symptom in childhood (ages 5 to 12 years).

Does DIVA assess only ADHD core symptoms or also other psychiatric conditions?

DIVA asks only about core ADHD symptoms required for the DSM-IV diagnosis, but it advises completing a general psychiatric assessment because common comorbid conditions may require differential diagnosis.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Taylor Morgan