Probability of major depression diagnostic classification using semi-structured versus fully structured diagnostic interviews
Authors: Levis Brooke , Benedetti Andrea , Riehm Kira E. , Saadat Nazanin , Levis Alexander W. , Azar Marleine , Rice Danielle B. , Chiovitti Matthew J. , Sanchez Tatiana A. , Cuijpers Pim , Gilbody Simon , Ioannidis John P. A. , Kloda Lorie A. , McMillan Dean , Patten Scott B. , Shrier Ian , Steele Russell J. , Ziegelstein Roy C. , Akena Dickens H. , Arroll Bruce , Ayalon Liat , Baradaran Hamid R. , Baron Murray , Beraldi Anna , Bombardier Charles H. , Butterworth Peter , Carter Gregory , Chagas Marcos H. , Chan Juliana C. N. , Cholera Rushina , Chowdhary Neerja , Clover Kerrie , Conwell Yeates , de Man-van Ginkel Janneke M. , Delgadillo Jaime , Fann Jesse R. , Fischer Felix H. , Fischler Benjamin , Fung Daniel , Gelaye Bizu , Goodyear-Smith Felicity , Greeno Catherine G. , Hall Brian J. , Hambridge John , Harrison Patricia A. , Hegerl Ulrich , Hides Leanne , Hobfoll Stevan E. , Hudson Marie , Hyphantis Thomas , Inagaki Masatoshi , Ismail Khalida , Jetté Nathalie , Khamseh Mohammad E. , Kiely Kim M. , Lamers Femke , Liu Shen-Ing , Lotrakul Manote , Loureiro Sonia R. , Löwe Bernd , Marsh Laura , McGuire Anthony , Mohd Sidik Sherina , Munhoz Tiago N. , Muramatsu Kumiko , Osório Flávia L. , Patel Vikram , Pence Brian W. , Persoons Philippe , Picardi Angelo , Rooney Alasdair G. , Santos Iná S. , Shaaban Juwita , Sidebottom Abbey , Simning Adam , Stafford Lesley , Sung Sharon , Tan Pei Lin Lynnette , Turner Alyna , van der Feltz-Cornelis Christina M. , van Weert Henk C. , Vöhringer Paul A. , White Jennifer , Whooley Mary A. , Winkley Kirsty , Yamada Mitsuhiko , Zhang Yuying , Thombs Brett D. 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundDifferent diagnostic interviews are used as reference standards for major depression classification in research. Semi-structured interviews involve clinical judgement, whereas fully structured interviews are completely scripted. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), a brief fully structured interview, is also sometimes used. It is not known whether interview method is associated with probability of major depression classification.AimsTo evaluate the association between interview method and odds of major depression classification, controlling for depressive symptom scores and participant characteristics.MethodData collected for an individual participant data meta-analysis of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) diagnostic accuracy were analysed and binomial generalised linear mixed models were fit.ResultsA total of 17 158 participants (2287 with major depression) from 57 primary studies were analysed. Among fully structured interviews, odds of major depression were higher for the MINI compared with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.15–3.87). Compared with semi-structured interviews, fully structured interviews (MINI excluded) were non-significantly more likely to classify participants with low-level depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≤6) as having major depression (OR = 3.13; 95% CI = 0.98–10.00), similarly likely for moderate-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 7–15) (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.56–1.66) and significantly less likely for high-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≥16) (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.26–0.97).ConclusionsThe MINI may identify more people as depressed than the CIDI, and semi-structured and fully structured interviews may not be interchangeable methods, but these results should be replicated.Declaration of interestDrs Jetté and Patten declare that they received a grant, outside the submitted work, from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, which was jointly funded by the Institute and Pfizer. Pfizer was the original sponsor of the development of the PHQ-9, which is now in the public domain. Dr Chan is a steering committee member or consultant of Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Lilly, MSD and Pfizer. She has received sponsorships and honorarium for giving lectures and providing consultancy and her affiliated institution has received research grants from these companies. Dr Hegerl declares that within the past 3 years, he was an advisory board member for Lundbeck, Servier and Otsuka Pharma; a consultant for Bayer Pharma; and a speaker for Medice Arzneimittel, Novartis, and Roche Pharma, all outside the submitted work. Dr Inagaki declares that he has received grants from Novartis Pharma, lecture fees from Pfizer, Mochida, Shionogi, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Daiichi-Sankyo, Meiji Seika and Takeda, and royalties from Nippon Hyoron Sha, Nanzando, Seiwa Shoten, Igaku-shoin and Technomics, all outside of the submitted work. Dr Yamada reports personal fees from Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., MSD K.K., Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Seishin Shobo, Seiwa Shoten Co., Ltd., Igaku-shoin Ltd., Chugai Igakusha and Sentan Igakusha, all outside the submitted work. All other authors declare no competing interests. No funder had any role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.