Objective: To describe the evolution of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA) as well as the goals of the instrument and the issues surrounding its use.
Method: Administration procedures, psychometric properties, and comparisons with other measures are reviewed.
Results: The DICA, once considered a structured interview, can now be used in a semistructured format. It displays good reliability and works well with younger children.
Conclusion: The DICA is a useful measure for both research and clinical settings, and it provides a reliable tool for assessing psychiatric information in children and adolescents.