What does DICA mean in UNCLASSIFIED

The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA) is a structured interview developed by psychiatrists to assess potential psychological or psychiatric disorders or behavior changes in children. It is also used to document current medical, psychological and social history as well educational background.

The DICA was designed primarily to assess children between the ages of 6-17 years old. However, it can be adapted to score younger children.

To administer the interview, typically 45-60 minutes are needed, depending on the complexity of the individual situation.

This interview is normally administered in an individual setting either face-to-face or by phone. Additionally, it may also be self-administered by parents or guardians if necessary.

Yes, individuals administering this assessment must undergo a standardized training program that covers administration procedures and scoring techniques. Note that there are several versions of the tool available so trainees should ensure they have chosen an appropriate version for their needs prior to beginning training.

Yes, individuals using this assessment should hold at least a Masters degree in Psychology/Psychiatry/Social Work or equivalent qualifications coupled with experience working with children/adolescents and knowledge of mental health issues. Those administering self-report forms should additionally hold relevant research qualifications and have experience with psychological testing techniques and interventions for assessing mental health status in youth populations.

The information obtained from administering this assessment may include detailed behavioral descriptions of mental health symptoms related to any identified psychiatric diagnosis; baseline measurements of target behaviors; current level of functioning; past clinical history; family dynamics; quality of life indices; emotional state assessments and levels of anxiety amongst other variables as per specified target population.