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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

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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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