SENSITIVITY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW SCHEDULE FOR CHILDREN, 2ND EDITION (DISC-2.1) FOR SPECIFIC DIAGNOSES OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Objective: The sensitivity of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Ch ildren, second edition (DISC-2.1) was examined for certain ''rare'' di sorders: eating disorders, major depressive episode, obsessive compuls ive disorder, psychosis, tic disorders, and substance use disorders. M ethod: Subjects recruited from specialized centers were interviewed wi th the DISC-2.1; the centers' diagnoses served as the criterion measur e. Results: Overall the DISC showed good to excellent sensitivity (ran ge = 0.73 to 1.0). Used alone, the DISC-P (parent interview) was gener ally more sensitive than the DISC-C (child interview). Areas for addit ional instrument revision were identified. Recommendations about infor mant choice by diagnosis are offered. Conclusions: The strategy used i n this study was useful for assessing the DISC's sensitivity for these disorders. Additional work examining specificity of the DISC remains to be done. The DISC should prove a useful adjunct in clinical setting s given the ease and relatively low cost of administration.