NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (NIMH DISC-IV): Description, Differences From Previous Versions, and Reliability of Some Common Diagnoses - 05/09/11

Doi : 10.1097/00004583-200001000-00014

DAVID SHAFFER, F.R.C.Psych.(Lond.) ^⁎ , PRUDENCE FISHER, M.S., CHRISTOPHER P. LUCAS, M.D., MINA K. DULCAN, M.D., MARY E. SCHWAB-STONE, M.D.
From the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute (Drs. Shaffer and Lucas, Ms. Fisher); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago (Dr. Dulcan); and Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT (Dr. Schwab-Stone)

^*Reprint requests to Dr. Shaffer, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032

ABSTRACT

Objective

To describe the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (NIMH DISC-IV) and how it differs from earlier versions of the interview. The NIMH DISC-IV is a highly structured diagnostic interview, designed to assess more than 30 psychiatric disorders occurring in children and adolescents, and can be administered by “lay” interviewers after a minimal training period. The interview is available in both English and Spanish versions.

Method

An editorial board was established in 1992 to guide DISC development and ensure that a standard version of the instrument is maintained. Preliminary reliability and acceptability results of the NIMH DISC-IV in a clinical sample of 84 parents and 82 children (aged 9-17 years) drawn from outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric clinics at 3 sites are presented. Results of the previous version in a community sample are reviewed.

Results

Despite its greater length and complexity, the NIMH DISC-IV compares favorably with earlier versions. Alternative versions of the interview are in development (the Present State DISC, the Teacher DISC, the Quick DISC, the Voice DISC).

Conclusions

The NIMH DISC is an acceptable, inexpensive, and convenient instrument for ascertaining a comprehensive range of child and adolescent diagnoses.

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Key Words : diagnostic interview, Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, measurement

Plan

This work was supported by grants P30 MH43878, R01 MH52822 (including supplements), and K20 MH0129 and by the Joy and William Ruane Center for the Early Identification of Mood Disorders. The authors acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals: K. Bourdon, M.A.; A. Blouin, Ph.D.; K. Cigich, M.A.; M. Davies, M.P.H.; A. DeMille, M.A.; A. Ferris, M.A.; J. Gerald; F. Graae; J. Greene; R. Gordon, Ph.D.; D. Kovac, M.A.; J. Lane; J. Lichtman, Ph.D.; L. Lucas; Y. Ma, M.S.; K. Morris, M.A.; E. Nottelman, Ph.D.; N. Obolensky, M.A.; A. Rachmiel; D. Rae, M.S.; D. Riedy; J. Schiff, M.S.; A. Tu; S. Willoughby; J. Xu, M.S.; H. Zhang, Ph.D.; and the NIMH DISC Editorial Board.
NIMH DISC Editorial Board-Chairman: David Shaffer, M.D.; Executive Secretary: Prudence Fisher, M.S.; Board Members: Hector Bird, M.D., Naomi Breslau, Ph.D., Glorisa Canino, Ph.D., Rand Conger, Ph.D., Mina Dulcan, M.D., Ann Garland, Ph.D., Richard Hough, Ph.D., Peter Jensen, M.D., Benjamin Lahey, Ph.D., Philip Leaf, Ph.D., Christopher Lucas, M.D., Debra Murphy, Ph.D., William Narrow, M.D., M.P.H., Darrel Regier, M.D., M.P.H., Wendy Reich, Ph.D., Anne Riley, Ph.D., Robert Roberts, Ph.D., Lee Robins, Ph.D., Mary Schwab-Stone, M.D., Gwendolyn Zahner, Ph.D.; Government Project Officer: Della Hann, Ph.D.