diagnostic interview schedule
Structured clinical interview tool designed for systematic psychiatric assessment in epidemiological research.
Full Definition
A standardized instrument used to obtain psychiatric diagnoses through systematic questioning following specific diagnostic criteria, typically DSM or ICD classifications. These schedules ensure consistency across different interviewers and study sites, making them essential for large-scale epidemiological studies. They include detailed algorithms for determining symptom presence, duration, and severity, as well as guidelines for establishing temporal relationships between symptoms and functional impairment. Diagnostic interview schedules may be administered by trained lay interviewers or clinicians, depending on the instrument's requirements and the study's objectives.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated in research contexts, but spell out on first use to distinguish from other psychiatric assessment tools.
In Context
- "All participants completed a diagnostic interview schedule administered by trained research assistants." — Methods section of research paper
- "The diagnostic interview schedule demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability across the multicenter study." — Validation study report