The reliability of child psychiatric diagnosis. A comparison among Danish child psychiatrists of traditional diagnoses and a multiaxial diagnostic system

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

  • A M Skovgaard
  • T Isager
  • O S Jørgensen

The study was conducted to compare an experimental multiaxial diagnostic system (MAS) with traditional multicategorical diagnoses in child psychiatric work. Sixteen written case histories were circulated to 21 child psychiatrists, who made diagnoses independently of one another, using two different diagnostic systems. Diagnostic reliability was measured as percentage of interrater agreement. The highest diagnostic reliability was obtained in psychotic disorders, the lowest in personality disorders. The MAS implied improved diagnostic reliability of mental retardation, somatic disorders and developmental disorders. Adjustment reaction (reactio maladaptiva) was the diagnosis most commonly used, but with varying reliability in both systems. The reliability of the socio-economic and psychosocial axes were generally high.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Vol/bind77
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)469-76
Antal sider8
ISSN0001-690X
StatusUdgivet - apr. 1988

ID: 182127473