Diagnostic
Inventory for Depression (DID): a new
self-report scale for diagnosing major
depression
To
improve the diagnosis of depression a team of
investigators have developed and validated the
Diagnostic Inventory for Depression (DID), a new
self-report scale to diagnose a major depressive
episode according to the symptom inclusion
criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Assessment
of psychosocial impairment due to depression and
evaluation of subjective quality of life are
also obtained from the DID.
The scale was validated in 626 psychiatric
outpatients who were also evaluated using the
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID).
High internal consistency and test-retest
reliability characterised the DID subscales. A
higher correlation existed between the DID and
another self-report scale for depression than
for anxiety, substance use problems, eating
disorders, and somatization, underlining the
convergent and discriminant validity of the
scale. There was also a high correlation between
the DID and interviewer ratings of the severity
of depression and psychosocial functioning. In
addition the scores of DID symptom severity
were different in patients with mild, moderate,
and severe depression, showing that this
self-rating scale has a high degree of
sensitivity. Symptom change could be detected by
the DID in a valid manner and there was an
association between the DID and a diagnosis of
major depressive disorder.
Therefore, with all these characteristics, the
DID appears to represent an additional tool of
depression diagnosis which can be very useful
for general practioners, psychiatrists and
patients themselves. If
approval can be obtained the full scale will
shortly be available on
Depression-Webworld.
Zimmerman et al., 2004 The Diagnostic Inventory
for Depression: a self-report scale to diagnose
DSM-IV major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychol
60: 87-110.