UNDERDIAGNOSIS USING SCIDR IN THE HOMELESS MENTALLY-ILL

There are a growing number of studies attempting to diagnose the degre e and extent of mental illness among the homeless. Increasingly, these studies are relying on structured diagnostic interviews such as the s tructured clinical interview for DSM III R diagnosis (SCIDR). This stu dy examines the sensitivity of the SCID in diagnosing major mental ill ness among the homeless. Comparing SCID interviews with hospital chart diagnosis of twenty-three homeless individuals, the study found that whereas the positive predictive value of the SCID is high in that it a ccurately predicts a positive diagnosis, its negative predictive power is quite low. A negative SCID diagnosis does not accurately reflect a negative history of mental illness. The study indicates that single p oint interviews cannot be relied upon to accurately diagnose past hist ory and, therefore, future need for treatment.