The CIDI is a comprehensive, standardized instrument for assessment of mental disorders according to the definitions and criteria of ICD-10 and DSM-IV. It is intended for use in epidemiological and cross-cultural studies as well as for clinical and research purposes. It enables simultaneous comparisons of diagnostic systems in epidemiological studies. The CIDI core Version 2.1 (1998) covers all major diagnostic disorders. The substance abuse disorders covered are alcohol, tobacco, and nine categories of illicit drugs. Each module, including the alcohol module, serves the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV and ICD-10. The standard version determines whether the alcohol disorders were ever present and whether they were present in the last year, the last 6 months, the last month, and the last 2 weeks. There is also a 12-month version that does not assess disorders prior to a year earlier. In addition to determining whether official criteria for Alcohol Dependence, Alcohol Abuse, Harmful Use, and Alcohol Withdrawal are met, the alcohol module dates the age of first use of alcohol and the age at first and last symptom. The CIDI is useful in clinical settings because it produces scores for a positive diagnosis for alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, and alcohol withdrawal. It also provides a count of total alcohol symptoms in the lifetime, clustering of symptoms in a single 12-month period, age at first problem related to alcohol, age at recovery, current drinking level, heaviest drinking level ever, impairment due to drinking, and comorbid mental disorders. It is designed for epidemiological use. The CIDI-Core contains 20 major questions and 59 subquestions and takes approximately 75 minutes to administer. In a study comparing 5 diagnostic instruments (SCID, CIDI-2, DIS-IV, DSM-IV Checklist, SDSS) for suitability for use in the CTN Clinical Trials Network, the CIDI-2 was ranked 2nd (Forman et al 2004). This instrument was revised in 1998 and renamed the WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health CIDI). Read more about this version and how it differs from version 2.1 at the

Developed at the National Center for PTSD, the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) has become the “gold standard” for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder in individuals over age 15. This user-friendly structured interview is ideal for screening, differential diagnosis, confirmation of a PTSD diagnosis, or identifying Acute Stress Disorder. Completion time for the full CAPS interview is 45-60 minutes. The CAPS consists of 30 carefully worded interview questions that target DSM-IV criteria for PTSD without leading the respondent. The interview gives a clear picture of symptom severity and sufficient information to determine whether a current or lifetime diagnosis of PTSD is indicated. In addition, the CAPS includes a protocol for assessing Criterion A, a diagnostic requirement that the patient has experienced at least one traumatic event involving both life threat or serious injury and an overwhelming emotional response. The scale also offers an optional Life Events Checklist, with just 17 items, that can be completed by the patient to help identify precipitating traumatic events. Although initially developed with combat veterans, the CAPS has been successfully used with many veteran, civilian and refugee trauma populations, including victims of rape, car accidents, incest, torture, cancer, and the Holocaust. It has gained international acceptance because it is psychometrically sound and because it is flexible and easy to use. Supported by 10 years of research, the CAPS is a highly useful and flexible tool for evaluating PTSD.