Diagnostics
The assessment for ADHD
Our aim is not to make a diagnosis as quickly as possible, but to understand as well as possible where your symptoms come from. That is why the assessment consists of five parts, which we assess together.
The five parts
No single answer or questionnaire determines the outcome. We assess all the information as a whole.
Information from your childhood
Someone close to you
A parent or someone else close to you fills in a short questionnaire about what you were like as a child. This is called the collateral history (heteroanamnese). Ask in good time who can do this for you.The DIVA-5 interview
Psychologist
With the psychologist, you go through the characteristics of ADHD step by step, in your childhood and now. The DIVA-5 is an internationally recognised interview based on the DSM-5 criteria.The medical intake
Doctor or nurse specialist
We look at your symptoms in relation to your medical and psychiatric history, and at whether other mental or physical conditions play a role.Multidisciplinary consultation
The treatment team
Practitioners from different disciplines discuss all the information together and assess whether a diagnosis of ADHD can be made.The advice consultation
Doctor and psychiatrist together
You hear the outcome and our advice on next steps. With your consent, we then let your referrer know the outcome.
What the DIVA-5 interview covers
In the interview, we systematically go through nine characteristics of inattention and nine of hyperactivity and impulsivity. A few examples:
Attention and concentration
- Difficulty sustaining attention
- Putting off tasks or not finishing them
- Forgetting appointments and regularly losing things
- Difficulty organising tasks
- Being easily distracted
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
- Physical or inner restlessness
- A full or busy mind
- Finding it hard to relax
- Talking a lot
- Finding it hard to wait
- Interrupting others or acting before you have thought about the consequences
Then and now
We look at two periods: your childhood and your life now.
ADHD is a developmental disorder. That is why we look at whether features were already present before the age of twelve. For example, we ask how things went at primary school, while doing homework, at home and in contact with other children.
Did your symptoms only start in adulthood? Then further assessment is needed to look at possible other causes.
Someone close to you: the collateral history
Your own memories are important, but someone who knew you as a child can fill in what you no longer remember yourself. If this information is missing, your assessment may be delayed or sometimes cannot be fully completed.
Who fills it in?
Preferably one of your parents. If that is not possible, it can also be a brother, sister or someone else close to you who knew you as a child.What is asked?
Questions about attention, hyperactive behaviour and impulsivity between roughly the ages of five and twelve. It takes about five to ten minutes to fill in.Are your parents unable to?
There is also a short questionnaire for someone who knows you well now, such as your partner, a friend or a colleague. Discuss with us what is possible in your situation.Do you remember it differently?
That is normal. You and someone close to you sometimes remember or experience situations differently.
How to prepare
- Think about your symptoms, now and in the past, and about situations at home, at work, during your studies or in relationships.
- Ask a parent or someone close to you in good time to fill in the questionnaire about your childhood.
- Look up old school reports, if you have them.
- Make a list of the medicines you take.
- Write down the questions you have for the advice consultation.
Not an exam
You do not need to study for the assessment. There are no right or wrong answers. The costs of questionnaires and tests are included in the diagnostic pathway.
Go to the checklist for your registrationQuestions about the assessment
- Then a brother, sister or someone else close to you who knew you as a child can also fill in the questionnaire. There is also a short questionnaire for someone who knows you well now. Discuss with us what is possible in your situation; we always assess the overall picture.
- No. The costs of questionnaires and tests are included in the diagnostic pathway.
- We specialise in ADHD in adults and do not carry out extensive assessments for other psychiatric conditions. We do look at whether your symptoms might have another cause.
- Yes. You can still come to us for a (re)evaluation or treatment. You do need a referral.
Diagnostics
Read more
- The diagnosisWhat a diagnosis of ADHD is based on: the DSM-5 criteria, the three types of ADHD and why we also look at other possible causes of your symptoms.
- After the diagnosisWhat happens after the ADHD assessment: starting treatment straight away if you have ADHD, or a referral back with clear advice if it is something else.
Would you like to register?
For an assessment and treatment with us, you need a referral from your GP. On the Registration page you can read how this works.