If you are being assessed for ADHD through Psychiatry UK, your clinician will be guided by the DIVA to support your assessment. 

DIVA stands for Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults. The current version, DIVA-5, is a structured interview based on the recognised diagnostic criteria for ADHD.  

It’s recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a structured diagnostic tool for diagnosing ADHD and is widely used across the NHS and private services in the UK. This recognition ensures that the diagnosis is legally valid and supports access to necessary resources and support. 

 

What will I be asked about? 

The DIVA helps clinicians explore your experiences in a consistent and thorough way.  

It looks at the two main groups of ADHD characteristics: 

  • difficulties with attention 
  • hyperactivity and impulsivity 

Your clinician will ask questions about each characteristic and may give you everyday examples to help you think about your own experiences. There are no right or wrong answers. The aim is just to understand what life is like for you. 

The questions will explore: 

  • whether you experience particular ADHD characteristics 
  • when they began 
  • whether you experienced similar difficulties during childhood 
  • how they affect different areas of your life 

These areas may include education, work, relationships, family life, social situations, hobbies and how you feel about yourself. 

 

Why will I be asked about childhood? 

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means its characteristics begin during childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time. 

You will therefore be asked about your experiences at school, at home and with other people when you were younger. Where possible, information from someone who knew you as a child, or from documents such as school reports, will help your clinician understand this part of your history. 

It is understandable if you find some childhood experiences difficult to remember. Your clinician will guide you through the questions and consider all the information available. 

 

Does the DIVA decide whether I have ADHD? 

The DIVA provides your clinician with important information, but it does not make the diagnosis by itself. 

Your clinician will use their professional judgement and consider the DIVA alongside other information collected during your assessment. This may include your developmental history, current circumstances, physical and mental health, questionnaires and information provided by someone who knows you well. 

They will also consider whether your experiences may be better explained by another condition, or whether you have additional needs alongside possible ADHD. 

 

Is the DIVA only used for ADHD? 

Yes. The DIVA has been developed specifically to assess the core characteristics of ADHD. It does not assess for autism or diagnose conditions such as anxiety, depression or a sleep disorder. 

This is why the DIVA forms only one part of a wider assessment. Some conditions can occur alongside ADHD or cause similar difficulties, so your clinician will also ask broader questions to build a full picture of your health, experiences and support needs. 

Different versions of the interview are available, including Young DIVA-5 for children and young people aged 5 to 17, and an adapted version for adults with an intellectual disability. All versions are designed specifically to support an ADHD assessment. 

The DIVA is not about fitting you into a checklist. It gives you and your clinician a structured way to talk about your experiences and understand how they have affected you throughout your life.