Test-retest reliability of a standardized psychiatric interview (DIS/CIDI)

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychological Assessment
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) introduced standardized diagnostic criteria.
• Assessing the reliability of diagnostic tools is crucial for clinical practice and research.
• The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) is a structured interview designed to assess psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), an expanded version of the DIS.
• To assess the diagnostic reliability of DSM-III criteria using the CIDI in a psychiatric inpatient population.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 60 psychiatric inpatients who underwent two diagnostic interviews using the CIDI.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed using kappa agreement coefficients.
• Specific focus on DSM-III affective and anxiety disorders, including subclassification.

Main Results:

• The CIDI demonstrated acceptable reliability (kappa ≥ 0.5) for most DSM-III diagnoses.
• Lower reliability was observed for dysthymic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
• Improved diagnostic reliability for DSM-III anxiety disorders was noted compared to earlier DIS versions.

Conclusions:

• The CIDI is a reliable instrument for diagnosing most DSM-III psychiatric disorders in inpatients.
• Specific diagnostic categories may require further refinement for improved reliability.
• Modifications in item wording may have contributed to enhanced reliability for anxiety disorders.