The SCID-I is a semi-structured interview guide used by clinicians or trained mental health professionals to make major —which include clinical disorders like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

: It combines obligatory questions with the flexibility for clinicians to ask for more detail, ensuring that all diagnostic criteria are systematically explored.

: Helping clinicians tell the difference between conditions with similar presentations, such as distinguishing Bipolar Disorder from Major Depressive Disorder .

: The interview is broken down into separate modules (e.g., mood episodes, psychotic symptoms, substance use) so clinicians can focus on relevant diagnostic categories.