Lifetime history of depression/anxiety criteria were established because we wanted to track people’s willingness to participate in two genetic studies, which were being conducted at our research site and which investigated the genetic bases of panic disorder and/ or social phobia, and of major depression. Because one of the studies required healthy controls, we also screened for people who reported no personal history of any major psychiatric disorder. Anyone who reported a history of mania or psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, outside of major depression, was excluded. Participants’ eligibility for clinical criteria was assessed using a clinical screening instrument2 which asked a series of questions regarding history of anxiety and mood symptoms, mania, substance abuse, and mental health treatment. The questions were adapted from a pre-existing clinical screening instrument developed by research staff members in the genetic study of panic disorder and social phobia.
