Diagnostic interviews

Abstract

This review addresses issues related to the use of structured psychiatric diagnostic interviews in children and adolescents. Structured diagnostic interviews improve the diagnostic process by better organizing the collection of clinical data and eliminating biases when applying diagnostic criteria. Available interviews generally fall into two categories. Highly structured (or respondent-based) measures use a set script and record subject's responses without interpretation. Thus, they are useful for epidemiologic surveys or other settings in which nonclinical interviewers are used. Semistructured (or interviewer-based) tools allow clinical interpretation of responses as well as the incorporation of other sources of information, thereby making them more relevant for clinicians. Structured diagnostic instruments are currently most often used in research settings, but potentially are useful for clinical settings as well. This review also addresses challenges in psychiatric diagnosis, a brief history of diagnostic standards, and the potential limitations/advantages of using structured diagnostic interviews.