Assessment of reliability in multicenter collaborative research with a videotape approach

Authors:
  • NANC ANDREASEN
    NC ANDREASEN
  • PMP MCDONALDSCOTT
    P MCDONALDSCOTT
  • WGWM GROVE
    WM GROVE
  • MKMB KELLER
    MB KELLER
  • RSRW SHAPIRO
    RW SHAPIRO
  • RHRMA HIRSCHFELD
    RMA HIRSCHFELD
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Abstract
As part of the ongoing NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)Collaborative Study on the Psychobiology of Depression, an analysis of variance design and videotaped interviews were used to explore the effects of sources of variance on the reliability of the measures being used by the NIMH study. In spite of substantial differences among interviewers in background or orientation, it was found that diagnoses and symptom ratings were made with a high level of reliability. These results suggest that the use of structured interviews and diagnostic criteria, when combined with a careful and systematic training program, can lead to good levels of diagnostic reliability.