Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Toombs, Maree; Nasir, Bushra; Kisely, Steve; Ranmuthugala, Geetha; Gill, Neeraj S; Beccaria, Gavin; Hayman, Noel; Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas N; Nicholson, Geoffrey C
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 27:Number 4(2019:Aug.)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: indigenous -- SCID-I -- mental health -- cultural appropriateness -- validation; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/1039856219852289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: This study determined the cultural appropriateness of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) as an acceptable tool for diagnosing mental illness among Indigenous people. Methods: De-identified qualitative feedback from participants and psychologists regarding the cultural appropriateness of the SCID-I for Indigenous people using open-ended anonymous questionnaires was gathered. Aboriginal Medial Service staff and Indigenous Support Workers participated in a focus group. Results: A total of 95.6% of participants felt comfortable during the 498 questionnaires completed. Psychologists also provided qualitative feedback for 502 (92.3%) interviews, of whom 40.4% established a good rapport with participants. Of the participants, 77.7% understood the SCID-I questions well, while 72.5% did not require any cultural allowances to reach a clinical diagnosis. Conclusion: When administered by a culturally safe trained psychologist, SCID-I is well tolerated in this group.