Concurrent Validity of the DIS: Experience With Psychiatric Patients in Mexico City

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The Diagnostic-Interview Schedule (DIS) is an instrument useful for cross-cultural studies and for research service delivery, therefore a study of the reliability and concurrent validity in Mexico was carried out. Interrater reliability showed intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of .89 among lay interviewers. The DSM-III syndrome checklist was elicited as the clinical diagnostic measure for concurrent validity. hnzterrater reliability among clinicians showed ICC values ranging from .64 to .92. For the concurrent validity study a minimum quota of 10 patients for each diagnosis was sought. The final sample included 55 inpatients and 94 outpatients interviewed independently. Sensitivity as a whole was low, ranging from .08 to .53; specificity ranged from .80 to .99; kappa agreement ranged from -.02 to .60; Yules' Y ranged from -.05 to .81. Validity indices were higher on diagnostic categories on which the flow-chart is simpler, suggesting that the memorylcognition process is a factor that attenuates reliability and face validity assessments. Comparisons with three studies using the Spanish DIS are discussed as well as reasons for discrepancies.