DOES THE COMPOSITE INTERNATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW UNDERDIAGNOSE THE EATING DISORDERS

Objective: A study was undertaken to assess the procedural validity of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for the diagn osis of ea ting disorders. Method: The CIDI was administered to 44 pat ients consecutively admitted to an eating disorders unit. CIDI-generat ed diagnoses were compared with clinical diagnoses documented in patie nt files. Discrepancies between diagnoses were examined in detail. Res ults: A significant level of disagreement was apparent, particularly f or anorexia nervosa patients. A large number of patients with symptoms requiring inpatient treatment did not reach criteria using CIDI's dia gnostic algorithm. Conclusion: Considerable difficulties remain in the use of standardized assessments, such as the CIDI, to diagnose eating disorders. While presenting features of the illness, for example, ego syntonic nature of the illness, secrecy, and denial, may be part of t he reason, the questions used by the CIDI appear to be in need of some refinement. (C) 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.