SCAN

Interview items

The SCAN interview comprises 1,872 items organized into 28 sections, though most patients require only portions of the interview; at the start of each section the interviewer assesses whether that section is relevant. The first section gathers sociodemographic information such as age, gender, and education. Section 1 (the second section) asks about symptoms the patient has experienced; this section does not contribute to diagnosis but helps the interviewer decide which items to emphasize, serving as a screening tool for part 1 of the interview (sections 2 through 13). Section 2 focuses on somatoform and dissociative symptoms, rated through direct questions and observation.

Section 3 explores worrying and tension via questions about nervous tension, muscular tension, fatiguability, and noise sensitivity. Section 4 measures anxiety attacks, phobias, avoidance behavior, fear of dying, and generalized anxiety disorder. Section 5 uses direct questions to assess obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Section 6 evaluates depression through items on low mood, uncontrolled crying, anhedonia, loss of feeling, suicidal tendencies, social withdrawal, insomnia or hypersomnia, and dysthymia. Section 7 measures cognitive functioning with questions about concentration, loss of interests or drive, and feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks. Section 8 asks about weight changes, appetite, sleep patterns, and libido.

Section 9 aims to diagnose eating disorders including bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Section 10 assesses euphoria or abnormally elevated mood (mania) for diagnosing bipolar disorders. Section 11 measures alcohol consumption and related social, legal, physical, and other problems. Section 12 covers the same areas as section 11 but for prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and nicotine.