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NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (NIMH DISC-IV): description, differences from previous
D Shaffer1, P Fisher, C P Lucas
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York 10032, USA. shafferd@child.cpmc.columbia.edu
Insights
The National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (NIMH DISC-IV) is a reliable tool for diagnosing child psychiatric disorders. This updated version is acceptable, inexpensive, and convenient for comprehensive child and adolescent diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Psychiatric Diagnostics
- Mental Health Assessment
Background:
- The National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (NIMH DISC) is a structured interview for assessing psychiatric disorders in youth.
- Previous versions have been widely used in research and clinical settings.
- Continuous development ensures the instrument remains current and effective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the NIMH DISC-IV, highlighting its enhancements over prior versions.
- To introduce the NIMH DISC-IV as a tool for diagnosing over 30 psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.
- To present preliminary reliability and acceptability data for the NIMH DISC-IV.
Main Methods:
- Development guided by an editorial board to maintain standardization.
- Administration by trained lay interviewers.
- Preliminary evaluation in a clinical sample of 84 parents and 82 children (aged 9-17 years) across three sites.
Main Results:
- The NIMH DISC-IV, despite increased length and complexity, demonstrates favorable comparison to earlier versions.
- Preliminary reliability and acceptability data were collected.
- Alternative versions (Present State, Teacher, Quick, Voice DISC) are under development.
Conclusions:
- The NIMH DISC-IV is an acceptable, inexpensive, and convenient instrument.
- It facilitates the ascertainment of a comprehensive range of child and adolescent diagnoses.
- The instrument supports accurate and efficient mental health assessments in youth.
Objective:
To describe the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (NIMH DISC-IV) and how it differs from earlier versions of the interview. The NIMH DISC-IV is a highly structured diagnostic interview, designed to assess more than 30 psychiatric disorders occurring in children and adolescents, and can be administered by "lay" interviewers after a minimal training period. The interview is available in both English and Spanish versions.
Method:
An editorial board was established in 1992 to guide DISC development and ensure that a standard version of the instrument is maintained. Preliminary reliability and acceptability results of the NIMH DISC-IV in a clinical sample of 84 parents and 82 children (aged 9-17 years) drawn from outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric clinics at 3 sites are presented. Results of the previous version in a community sample are reviewed.
Results:
Despite its greater length and complexity, the NIMH DISC-IV compares favorably with earlier versions. Alternative versions of the interview are in development (the Present State DISC, the Teacher DISC, the Quick DISC, the Voice DISC).
Conclusions:
The NIMH DISC is an acceptable, inexpensive, and convenient instrument for ascertaining a comprehensive range of child and adolescent diagnoses.