HOW TO CHOOSE AMONG THE RICHES - SELECTING A DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT

A variety of standardized interviews are now available that make speci fic psychiatric diagnoses possible according to one or more of the off icial diagnostic nomenclatures. The number of interviews to choose amo ng is likely to continue to grow. It is not always obvious which instr ument would be best for a particular study. This paper offers criteria that should be considered, both in judging the appropriateness of an instrument for the special needs of a particular study and, when more than one interview would serve, making a choice based on more general criteria.