Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Mulsant, B. H. Articles by Pollock, B. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Mulsant, B. H. Articles by Pollock, B. G. Depression Other Research Techniques

Interrater Reliability in Clinical Trials of Depressive Disorders

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to review the reported methods of rater training, assessment of interrater reliability, and rater drift in clinical trials of treatments for depressive disorders. METHOD: Two psychiatrists independently identified all original reports of clinical trials relevant to depressive disorders published between 1996 and 2000 in the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Archives of General Psychiatry. Reported methods of rater training, assessment of interrater reliability, and rater drift were systematically summarized. RESULTS: Sixty-three original papers met criteria for inclusion. Only 11 (17%) of the studies reported the number of raters. Only two (9%) of the 22 multicenter and four (10%) of the 41 single-center trials documented rater training. Only nine (22%) of the single-center trials and three (14%) of the multicenter trials reported interrater reliability, despite a median number of five raters (range=2–20). Only three (5%) of the 63 articles reported rater drift. CONCLUSIONS: Few published reports of clinical trials of treatments for depressive disorders document adequately the number of raters, rater training, assessment of interrater reliability, and rater drift.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Rosen, B. H. Mulsant, M. L. Bruce, V. Mittal, and D. Fox Actors' Portrayals of Depression to Test Interrater Reliability in Clinical Trials Am J Psychiatry, October 1, 2004; 161(10): 1909 - 1911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2002 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us