Related Experiment Videos
Distress reduction during the structured clinical interview for DSM-III-R
P A Scarvalone1, M Cloitre, L A Spielman
1Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical Center, New York 10021, USA.
Psychiatry Research
|January 31, 1996
Summary
Standardized diagnostic interviews, like the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID), can reduce psychological distress in research volunteers. Many participants reported lower anxiety and depression after the interview, suggesting a positive experience.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Research
- Mental Health
Background:
- Standardized diagnostic interviews are crucial in clinical research.
- Assessing the impact of these interviews on participant distress is important for ethical research conduct.
- Volunteers in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research may experience heightened psychological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) on psychological distress in research volunteers.
- To determine if the SCID influences anxiety and depression levels during the interview process.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure anxiety and depression.
- Recruited 50 adult participants concerned about HIV seeking testing and treatment.
- Employed repeated measures analysis of variance to analyze distress changes.
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in psychological distress were observed by the interview's conclusion.
- 72% of participants reported reduced anxiety levels.
- 54% of participants reported reduced depression levels.
Conclusions:
- The SCID appears to offer a positive experience for research participants.
- Findings may alleviate concerns for subjects, families, and review boards regarding structured interview participation.
- Structured interviews can potentially mitigate distress in research settings.