Development of a computerized psychiatric diagnostic interview for use by mental health and primary care clinicians

A diagnostic screening tool was developed to simulate a clinical psychiatrist intake interview including DSM-IV Axis I and II differential diagnosis plus evaluation of dangerousness, and optionally psychiatric medication history, family history, developmental history, and treatment goals (PsychDiagnoser software). The performance of the software as a diagnostic screening tool was evaluated in a private practice outpatient setting with 62 new patients. The software was well accepted with 60 patients receiving a computer diagnosis. The computer diagnosis for Axis I, Axis II, and dangerousness was compared with the definitive clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Sensitivity and specificity calculations showed PsychDiagnoser software to be an affective screening tool for the Axis I and II disorders prevalent to this population (major depression, bipolar I and II, alcohol and drug abuse, no personality disorder, borderline personality disorder) and for dangerousness.