Poor agreements between experienced clinicians and the CIDI-Auto were reported for anxiety and mood disorders in the current study. A major implication is that if diagnosis alone directed treatment, then patients could receive different treatments, depending on whether the computer, or a clinician, made the diagnosis.

The aetiological approach used by clinicians familiar with the features of HIV disease, was found to be useful. All four rating scales differentiated equally well between depressed and non-depressed groups.

The efficacy of a focused education and psychotherapy program (FEPP) plus antidepressant was compared with that of usual psychosocial treatment and antidepressant in a general practice setting. The FEPP comprised interpersonal counselling (IPC) delivered in a modified way to suit the general practice setting, together with patient education and selected cognitive behavioural techniques. All patients were treated with venlafaxine-XR. Thirty-one patients entered the study, three withdrawing before completion of the 12 week trial. Both treatments produced a statistically significant reduction in BDI and POMS scores from baseline, with greater improvement evident in the FEPP plus antidepressant group. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.