Concordance rate between clinical and DIS diagnoses: a cross-cultural comparison

Concordance rates between clinical and DIS-generated diagnoses were compared using data sets from Fukuoka University in Japan and Neuropsychiatric Hospital at the UCLA. An overall concordance rate of 35% between standard clinical diagnosis and DIS-Lifetime diagnosis was discovered in both samples. Next, concordance rates were analyzed by diagnostic category, and differential concordance rates among major diagnostic categories were found in both samples. The highest concordance rates were found in anxiety disorders and major depression. The lowest concordance rates were found in dysthymic disorder and schizophrenia. The Fukuoka sample contained more patients with anxiety disorders and major depression, while the UCLA sample has more patients diagnosed as dysthymic disorder and adjustment disorder. Future directions in cross-cultural psychiatric research are also suggested.