TRAINING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE WITH THE STRUCTURED CLINICAL INTERVIEWFOR DSM-IV (SCID-I P)/

Accuracy in psychiatric diagnosis is critical for evaluating the suita bility of the subjects for entry into research protocols and for estab lishing comparability of findings across study sites. However, trainin g programs in the use of diagnostic instruments for research projects are not well systematized. Furthermore, little information has been pu blished on the maintenance of interrater reliability of diagnostic ass essments. At the UCLA Research Center for Major Mental Illnesses, a Tr aining and Quality Assurance Program for SCID interviewers was used to evaluate interrater reliability and diagnostic accuracy. Although cli nically experienced interviewers achieved better interrater reliabilit y and overall diagnostic accuracy than neophyte interviewers, both gro ups were able to achieve and maintain high levels of interrater reliab ility, diagnostic accuracy, and interviewer skill. At the first qualit y assurance check after training, there were no significant difference s between experienced and neophyte interviewers in interrater reliabil ity or diagnostic accuracy. Standardization of training and quality as surance procedures within and across research projects may make resear ch findings from study sites more comparable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.