Objective. This study examined the relative sensitivities of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview- Short Form (CIDI-SF) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) to persons with a known mental illness.
Background. The National Study of Health and Activity is a population survey of disability in the United States. The survey includes three phases: screening a national sample of households to identify persons who are likely eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, interviewing a sub-sample of persons identified, and conducting medical examinations on the identified sample. The CIDI-SF was considered for screening individuals who may have mental illness. However, we were concerned about the sensitivity of the CIDI-SF to mental illness. Hence we compared the relative sensitivities of the CIDI-SF and the SCID, because the SCID is highly sensitive and is widely accepted for its precision in identifying psychiatric disorders.
Methods. Both instruments were administered to 100 randomly selected current SSI/SSDI beneficiaries living in the greater Washington metropolitan area whose primary impairment was mental illness. These individuals were selected from the SSA master beneficiary files.
Results. Of the 100 beneficiaries, the CIDI-SF identified 81 while the SCID identified 98.
Conclusions. The SCID is more sensitive than the CIDI-SF to SSA beneficiaries. However, given requirements for particular screening needs, the CIDI-SF holds a distinct advantage over the SCID given that it can be administered over the telephone and by a lay interviewer.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using the CIDI-SF or the SCID as a screen for mental illness. 2. Assess the relative sensitivies of the CIDI-SF and SCID to persons with known mental illness.
Keywords: Screening Instruments, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This project was funded by the Social Security Administration and conducted jointly by Westat and ROW Sciences, Inc.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.