An adaptation of the Interpersonal Problem Areas Rating Scale: pilot and interrater agreement study.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the adaptation of a rating scale of interpersonal psychotherapy problem areas to include a fifth problem area appropriate to bipolar disorder and an interrater agreement study in identifying interpersonal problem areas and selecting a primary treatment focus if patients were to engage in treatment.


METHODS
Five research interpersonal psychotherapists assessed nine audiotapes of a single interview with five bipolar and four unipolar patients in which the interpersonal inventory and identification of problem areas were undertaken.


RESULTS
Raters agreed on presence and absence of problem areas in seven tapes. Kappas for identification of problem areas were 1.00 (grief), 0.77 (role dispute), 0.61 (role transition), 0.57 (interpersonal deficits) and 1.00 (loss of healthy self). Kappa for agreement on a primary clinical focus if patients were to engage in interpersonal psychotherapy treatment was 0.64.


CONCLUSIONS
The adaptation of the original scale to include an area pertinent to bipolar disorder proved to be applicable and relevant for use with this population. The results show substantial interrater agreement in identifying problem areas and potential treatment focus.
Andrade
Ana Claudia Fontes de
AC
anacld@hotmail.com
Frank
Ellen
E
Lotufo Neto
Francisco
F
Houck
Patricia R
PR
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult