The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II) is an efficient, user-friendly instrument that will help researchers and clinicians make standardized, reliable, and accurate diagnoses of the 10 DSM-IV Axis II personality disorders as well as depressive personality disorder, passive-aggressive personality disorder, and personality disorder not otherwise specified. Now compatible with DSM-IV, the interview questions have been redesigned to reflect the subject’s inner experience. This instrument begins with a brief overview that characterizes the subject’s typical behavior and relationships and elicits information about the subject's capacity for self-reflection. It then considers each of the personality disorders in detail.

The User’s Guide provides instructions on how to use the SCID-II effectively. It contains sections describing the rationale and structure of the SCID-II and a detailed item-by-item commentary on the SCID-II. A sample case is also included to help clinicians learn to use the SCID-II.