12-MONTH TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF THE STRUCTURED CLINICAL INTERVIEWFOR DSM-III-R PERSONALITY-DISORDERS IN COCAINE-DEPENDENT PATIENTS

This study examined 12-month test-retest reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SCID-II) in c ocaine-dependent patients. Thirty-one patients completed the SCID-II d uring the second week of hospitalization for cocaine dependence, and a gain 12 months later. In both interviews, patients were asked to answe r questions about their personality during the several years preceding admission to the hospital. Test-retest reliability, as measured by ka ppa, was relatively poor at .46. However, reliability of negative diag noses (the absence of a disorder at both time points) was higher than reliability of positive diagnoses (the presence of a disorder at both time points). Reasons for the difficulty in attaining long-term test-r etest reliability of axis II diagnoses in cocaine-dependent patients a re discussed. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company