This work describes the instruments adapted for the epidemiologic inve
stigation of mental health in our country, by researchers of the Inves
tigation and Health Services Department of the Epidemiological and Soc
ial Investigations Division of the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry. Th
e analyzed instruments are: Standardized Psychiatric Interview, Presen
t State Examination, Diagnostic Interview Schedule and Composite Inter
national Diagnostic interview. The characteristics of each one of thes
e instruments are given, as well as those of the confiability and vali
dity studies in our country, and its advantages and limitations for th
e epidemiologic studies in psychiatry.