The DIVA-5 test in the ADHD assessment – what you will be asked

Written and professionally reviewed by Martin Bergholtz, doctor in specialist training in psychiatry
Last updated: September 2026

DIVA-5 is a structured diagnostic interview used as part of the assessment for ADHD in adults. The interview examines symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity – both in adulthood and in childhood.

DIVA-5 can contribute to a systematic and thorough assessment of whether a person's difficulties are consistent with ADHD. However, the interview cannot stand alone, and the result must always be part of an overall psychiatric or psychological assessment.

What is DIVA-5?

DIVA stands for Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults. The number 5 refers to the fact that the interview is based on the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in DSM-5.

DIVA-5 is designed for adults and systematically goes through the 18 core symptoms of ADHD:

• Nine symptoms related to inattention
• Nine symptoms related to hyperactivity and impulsivity

For each symptom, it is examined how the difficulties show in the person's current everyday life and whether similar signs were present in childhood. Emphasis is placed on concrete examples rather than only the person's general experience of the symptoms.

What does DIVA-5 examine?

DIVA-5 examines both the presence of ADHD symptoms and their impact on the person's level of functioning.

The interview covers, among other things, difficulties with:

• Sustaining attention
• Listening and following conversations
• Completing tasks
• Planning and organising everyday life
• Remembering appointments and practical chores
• Avoiding or postponing demanding tasks
• Handling distractions
• Regulating physical or inner restlessness
• Waiting, limiting interruptions and controlling impulses

Some adults with ADHD mainly have problems with attention and organisation, while others also experience clear hyperactivity or impulsivity. In adults, hyperactivity can show as inner restlessness, many thoughts, a need for constant activity or difficulty relaxing.

Why are you asked about your childhood?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. This means that the symptoms do not first appear in adulthood, even though they can become more apparent as demands for independence, planning and overview increase.

DIVA-5 therefore examines both current symptoms and signs from childhood. The questions may, for example, concern schooling, homework, concentration, restlessness, forgetfulness, conflicts and the ability to follow instructions.

Some adults find it hard to remember their childhood precisely. This does not necessarily rule out an assessment. Where possible, the information can be supplemented with:

• A conversation with a parent or another close relative
• School reports or report cards
• Previous medical records
• Other descriptions of the person's development and functioning

Information from childhood must always be interpreted in its proper context. High intelligence, support from the family, few demands or very fixed routines may, for example, have made the symptoms less visible.

How does a DIVA-5 interview work?

DIVA-5 is carried out as a conversation with a professional experienced in assessing ADHD. The interview follows a fixed structure, but there is room to elaborate on answers and explore individual examples.

For each possible ADHD symptom, the following is typically covered:

1. How the symptom shows in adulthood
2. Whether there were similar signs in childhood
3. Concrete situations where the difficulty shows
4. How often and how pervasive the problem is
5. How it affects the person's daily functioning

It is not a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. The aim is to create as accurate a picture as possible of the person's patterns throughout life.

How long does DIVA-5 take?

A DIVA-5 interview often lasts between one and a half and two hours. The time depends, among other things, on how much needs to be explored and whether a relative takes part.

For some, the interview is completed in one session. In other cases it may be appropriate to split it up, especially if the person gets tired or needs time to find information about their childhood.

Can a relative take part?

A parent, partner or other relative can often contribute relevant observations. A parent can particularly help with information about childhood, while a partner can describe how the difficulties show in current everyday life.

However, it is not always possible to involve a relative. Some have no contact with their family, and others have relatives who have only noticed the symptoms to a limited extent. The absence of an informant therefore does not automatically mean that an assessment cannot be carried out.

The overall assessment must take into account the quality of the information available.

Which areas of life are assessed?

To diagnose ADHD, the symptoms must not only be present. They must also have a significant impact on the person's functioning.

DIVA-5 therefore examines whether the difficulties have had an impact in several areas, such as:

• Education and schooling
• Work
• Relationships and family life
• Social relationships
• Leisure and interests
• Self-esteem and the sense of one's own abilities

For example, the person may spend a disproportionate amount of energy keeping appointments, often be late, find it hard to finish tasks or repeatedly be overwhelmed by everyday demands.

Can you compensate for ADHD symptoms?

Many adults have developed strategies and systems that reduce the visible consequences of their difficulties. This may be extensive use of calendars, alarms, lists, fixed places for belongings or help from a partner.

Some perform well at work or in education but spend much more time and energy than others keeping track. Others can function well in highly structured settings but run into significant problems when demands change.

With DIVA-5 it is therefore relevant to examine both the visible difficulties and the effort the person puts into compensating for them.

Can DIVA-5 stand alone?

No. DIVA-5 is a central tool in the ADHD assessment, but the interview alone cannot determine whether the diagnosis should be made.

A full ADHD assessment may also include:

• A thorough initial consultation
• Developmental history and information about childhood
• Questionnaires and other diagnostic interviews
• Information from relatives
• Assessment of level of functioning
• Review of physical and mental health
• Assessment of possible alternative explanations

Concentration problems, restlessness and difficulty keeping track can also occur with, for example, anxiety, depression, strain, sleep problems, autism, PTSD or physical health problems. Differential diagnosis is therefore an important part of the assessment.

What happens after the interview?

After DIVA-5, the clinician compares the information from the interview with the rest of the assessment. An overall assessment is made of:

• How many symptoms are present
• Whether the symptoms can be traced back to childhood
• Whether they occur in several different contexts
• Whether they cause significant functional impairment
• Whether other factors better explain the difficulties

The result is typically reviewed in a feedback session. Here the person receives an explanation of the assessment and the opportunity to ask questions. If the criteria for ADHD are met, recommendations for relevant treatment and support can also be given.

How do you prepare for DIVA-5?

Taking part in the interview does not require extensive preparation. However, it can help to consider in advance how the difficulties show in different parts of everyday life.

You could, for example, think about:

• Schooling, homework and concentration in childhood
• Planning, deadlines and getting started on tasks
• Forgetfulness and a tendency to lose things
• Inner or physical restlessness
• Impulsive decisions and interrupting
• Work, education and relationships
• Strategies you use to make everyday life work

If you have old school reports or other relevant documents, they can be useful. However, you do not need to remember every detail or bring documentation for each individual symptom.

DIVA-5 as part of ADHD assessment in Copenhagen

At Nordisk Psykiatri we use DIVA-5 as part of a thorough ADHD assessment . The interview is combined with a broader assessment of developmental history, current symptoms, level of functioning and possible alternative explanations.

The aim is not just to count symptoms, but to understand the overall pattern and the impact the difficulties have on everyday life. The assessment forms the basis for a professional conclusion and individual recommendations for further support or treatment.

Also read: ADHD symptoms in adults, the difference between ADD and ADHD and waiting times for ADHD assessment.

Frequently asked questions about DIVA-5

Is DIVA-5 a test for ADHD?

DIVA-5 is best described as a structured diagnostic interview. There are no right or wrong answers, and the interview is always used together with the rest of the assessment.

Can you take a DIVA-5 test online?

No. DIVA-5 is not a questionnaire or self-test that you fill in at home. The form is used by the clinician as a fixed framework for the interview, where each symptom is reviewed with concrete examples from both adulthood and childhood. If you would like a first indication before an assessment, you can take an indicative ADHD screening. However, it cannot provide a diagnosis.

Can DIVA-5 be used for adults?

Yes. DIVA-5 was developed for assessing ADHD in adults, but also includes a systematic assessment of symptoms in childhood.

Can DIVA-5 show whether you have ADD?

DIVA-5 examines both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The interview can therefore contribute to the assessment of an ADHD presentation where the difficulties are mainly related to inattention – what was previously often referred to as ADD.

Do your parents need to take part?

It is not always a requirement, but information from a parent or another person who knew you in childhood can strengthen the assessment. The options are clarified individually.

Do you get a diagnosis after DIVA-5?

Not necessarily. The interview is one part of the overall assessment. Any ADHD diagnosis is made on the basis of all available information and an overall clinical assessment.

Sources

• DIVA Foundation. What is DIVA-5? DIVA-5 is a semi-structured diagnostic interview based on the DSM-5 criteria. The interview examines ADHD symptoms in both childhood and adulthood and their impact on functioning. Read about DIVA-5
• DIVA Foundation. Instructions for DIVA-5. Guidance on using and interpreting DIVA-5 as a clinician-administered interview. Read the guidance
• American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2022.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87). Clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment of ADHD in children, young people and adults. Read the NICE guideline