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The Melancholia Scale and the Newcastle Scales

Item-combinations and Inter-observer Reliability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

P. Bech ,
A. Gjerris ,
J. Andersen ,
S. B⊘jholm ,
P. Kramp ,
T. G. Bolwig ,
M. Kastrup ,
L. Clemmesen  and
O. J. Rafaelsen
P. Bech
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
A. Gjerris
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
J. Andersen
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
S. B⊘jholm
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
P. Kramp
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
T. G. Bolwig
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
M. Kastrup
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
L. Clemmesen
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
O. J. Rafaelsen
Affiliation:
Psychochemistry Institute and Psychiatric Department, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Summary

The reliability of the total scores on three rating scales (Melancholia Scale and the two Newcastle Scales) and the algorithms leading to the Feighner, Research Diagnostic Criteria, and the DSM-III subtypes of depression have been compared. The degree of inter-observer agreements for the various item-combinations was significantly higher than would be expected by chance. The average agreement for each assessment system ranged from 80 to 93 per cent. This 7 to 20 per cent lack of total agreement probably reflects the limitation of clinical assessments including the influence of halo effects.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 143 , Issue 1 , July 1983 , pp. 58 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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