This study examined the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory. First, the construct validity of the measure and the 14 corresponding psychiatric diagnoses was considered. Secondarily, the investigation considered the psychiatric epidemiology of a college-age population.A review of the literature was presented with an emphasis on psychiatric syndromes, the Neo-Kraepelinian tradition, and the development of empirically based diagnostic criteria. The construction of the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory was placed in the historical context of the assessment of empirically based descriptive diagnostic criteria.One thousand and twenty-two undergraduate and graduate students from four U.S. universities volunteered to complete the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory. Participants were screened for prior psychiatric treatment or a course of psychotrophic medication. The mean chronological age of the subjects was 20.6 years (SD = 1.25) with a range of 18 to 28. The Ball State Diagnostic Inventory is a 218-item measure of adult psychopathology as reflected in the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic Inventory Schedule.The results showed the epidemiological point prevalence rates for this college age sample to correspond to other estimates. The 14-factor solution provided evidence of grouping of symptoms into traditionally defined diagnostic categories. Moreover, derived factors were similar to previous factor analytical studies with major psychiatric syndromes.The results were discussed in terms of their support for the utility of empirically based diagnostic criteria. Further investigations with the Ball State diagnostic Inventory were explored. / Department of Educational Psychology