Development of the Spanish-Language Version of the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule

The use of the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) to elicit DSM-III-defined mental disorders among Hispanic respondents in the Los Angeles site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area project required development of a Spanish translation of the instrument that would be understood readily by persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban origin. The translation was carried out using back translation, bilingual test respondents, a bilingual translation staff, an extensive committee of experienced bilingual clinicians as translation consultants, and revision following clinical evaluation. A study of its reliability and comparison with clinical diagnoses obtained with Spanish-speaking psychiatric outpatients indicated satisfactory equivalence of the Spanish DIS to the English version. Early international use of the Spanish DIS promises new data on the cross-cultural validity and prevalence rates of DSM-III-diagnosed disorders.