THE DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW FOR DEPRESSIVE PERSONALITY

Objective: The development of a new structured interview for depressiv e personality disorder is described. Method: A literature search yield ed 32 traits associated with depressive personality; these traits were then used to develop the interview. Interrater reliability for the in terview was tested in an initial group of 16 patients with longstandin g depressive personality traits. Data from a second group of 67 subjec ts-54 with a possible clinical diagnosis of depressive personality and 13 normal volunteers-were used to examine the interview's psychometri c properties and to modify its content. Factor analysis of the traits in the interview and modification of the instrument's structure was ca rried out on the basis of data from a third group of 526 subjects who were participating in a large epidemiologic study of mood disorders. R esults: The Diagnostic Interview for Depressive Personality, which eme rged from this process, assesses 30 personality traits that were shown to have satisfactory interrater reliability (kappa=0.67), test-retest reliability (kappa=0.41), and diagnostic reliability (kappa= 0.62). A cutoff score of 42 (from a total possible score of 60) on the intervi ew offers a useful threshold for diagnosis. Conclusions: This intervie w provides a reliable method for assessing depressive personality trai ts and establishing the diagnosis of depressive personality disorder.