Concurrent validity of the OPCRIT diagnostic system. Comparison of OPCRIT diagnoses with consensus best-estimate lifetime diagnoses.
BACKGROUND
OPCRIT (a suite of computer programs that allow data entry and generate diagnoses according to 12 operational diagnostic systems) is used in a wide range of psychiatric research including both European Science Foundation and NIMH research initiatives in the molecular genetics of mental disorders. We examined its concurrent validity in 100 subjects collected for linkage studies of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia.


METHODS
We compared diagnoses generated by OPCRIT from data rated by two trained clinicians with diagnoses made according to consensus, best-estimate, lifetime procedures by the same two raters according to DSM-III-R and RDC classifications.


RESULTS
Good to excellent agreement was achieved between OPCRIT diagnoses and those made by consensus best-estimate procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
OPCRIT provides a convenient, reliable, rapid and valid approach to polydiagnostic assessment that can be used as an adjunct to conventional (but time consulting) best-estimate consensus diagnostic procedures.
Craddock
M
M
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Health Park, Cardiff. craddock@cardiff.ac.uk
Asherson
P
P
Owen
M J
MJ
Williams
J
J
McGuffin
P
P
Farmer
A E
AE
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012984:Software