Updated for DSM-IV, the "Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality (SIDP-IV)" is a semi-structured interview that uses non-perjorative questions to examine behaviours and personality traits from the patient's perspective. The SIDP-IV is organized by topic sections rather than disorder to allow for a more natural conversational flow, a method that gleans useful information from related interview questions and produces a more accurate diagnosis. Designed as a follow-up to a general psychiatric interview and chart review that assesses episodic psychiatric disorders, the SIDP-IV helps the interviewer to more easily distinguish lifelong behaviour from temporary states that result from an episodic psychiatric disorder. During the session, the interviewer can also refer to the specific DSM-IV criterion associated with that question set. In the event that the clinician decides to interview a third-party informant such as family members or close friends, a consent form is provided at the end of the interview.
About the Author :
Bruce Pfohl, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Nancee Blum, M.S.W., is a Social Work Specialist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Mark Zimmerman, M.D., is Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Review :
"I have utilized the SIDP-IV as a diagnostic tool from its inception, and I have found it to be of exceptional value in diagnosing personality disorders. There are several improvements in this version, including the use of topical sections and questions that are formulated in such a way as to cover a wider range of experience instead of a narrow focus on symptoms."-- "Larry J. Siever, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Special Evaluation Program for Mood and Personality Disorders, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Bronx VA Medical Centers, Bronx, New York"
"The SIDP-IV is a very 'user-friendly' semi-structured interview for diagnosing DSM-IV personality disorders. It can readily be used in both research and clinical situations. The SIDP-IV provides the interviewer with the specific criterion being measured followed by appropriate non-biased probes that can be elaborated upon by the interviewer. The scoring is easy and straightforward. The criteria are not clustered by diagnoses; rather, they are sorted into 10 functional categories that allow a coherence and a smoothness to the interview. The interview's probes and structure make excellent clinical sense while providing an operationalized method for more accurate diagnosis of these difficult and confusing patients."-- "Kenneth R. Silk, M.D., Associate Chair for Clinical and Administrative Affairs, Director, Personality Disorders Section, Adult Ambulatory Division, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical Center"
"The SIDP-IV is the one structured interview that I have consistently recommended for research projects oriented to the analysis of personality disorders. Combined with a psychometrically sensitive self-report inventory, it can prove of value also as a tool for clinical assessment."-- "Theodore Millon, Ph.D. D.Sc., Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida"
