A new, semi-structured psychiatric interview for use in genetic linkage studies: a report on the reliability of the SSAGA.

TLDR

The SSAGA interview was evaluated through within‑ and cross‑center test‑retest studies across multiple sites to assess its reliability for psychiatric diagnoses in a genetic linkage study of alcoholism. Reliability was high for DSM‑III‑R substance dependence disorders, lower for substance abuse, good for depression, mixed for antisocial personality disorder, and the SSAGA proved suitable for broad phenotyping in family studies beyond alcoholism.

Abstract

Within- and cross-center test-retest studies were conducted to study the reliability of a new, semistructured, comprehensive, polydiagnostic psychiatric interview being used in a multisite genetic linkage study of alcoholism. Findings from both studies indicated that reliability for the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) was high for DSM-III-R substance dependence disorders, but less so for substance abuse disorders. Reliability of depression was good in both studies, but mixed for antisocial personality disorder (ASP). Findings are presented in terms of specific substance dependence and abuse diagnoses, as well as for depression and ASP. Criterion-specific reliabilities are examined by type of substance used. Although SSAGA was designed to provide for broad phenotyping of alcoholism, review of its new features suggests its suitability for a variety of family studies, not just those focusing on substance abuse.