A NEW, SEMISTRUCTURED PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEW FOR USE IN GENETIC-LINKAGE STUDIES - A REPORT ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE SSAGA

Within- and cross-center test-retest studies were conducted to study t he reliability of a new, semistructured, comprehensive, polydiagnostic psychiatric interview being used in a multisite genetic linkage study of alcoholism. Findings from both studies indicated that reliability for the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSA GA) was high for DSM-III-R substance dependence disorders, but less so for substance abuse disorders. Reliability of depression was good in both studies, but mixed for anti-social personality disorder (ASP). Fi ndings are presented in terms of specific substance dependence and abu se diagnoses, as well as for depression and ASP. Criterion-specific re liabilities are examined by type of substance used. Although SSAGA was designed to provide for broad phenotyping of alcoholism, review of it s new features suggests its suitability for a variety of family studie s, not just those focusing on substance abuse.