The SCID-D diagnostic interview and treatment planning in dissociative disorders

With the development of reliable diagnostic tools for the dissociative disorders, earlier implementation of appropriate therapy is now possible. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders-Revised (SCID-D) (Steinberg, 1994b), an extensively field-tested semistructured interview, can assist clinicians with treatment planning as well as diagnosis. This article discusses the diagnostic interview process, the importance of feedback interviews, specific questions regarding consultation and referral, and the use of hypnosis. The final section correlates the five dissociative symptoms assessed by the SCID-D with different phases of treatment planning.