Evaluation of a Computerized Version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule

An interactive, computerized version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DJS) was completed by 135 randomly selected psychiatric inpatients and evaluated by the patients and their psychiatrists. The results showed that the majority of the patients interacted well with the computer and that the treating psychiatrists found the computer reports generally accurate and helpful. Analysis of the agreement between the computer and the psychiatrists' diagnoses yielded mixed results depending on the method of analysis chosen. The thoroughness, consistency, and broad perspective of the computer interview combined with the insight, creativity, and experience of the well-trained clinician may ultimately provide a method of diagnosis that is superior to either used alone.