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The reliability of diagnostic coding in psychiatric case registers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

S. Sytema*
Affiliation:
Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie, Rijks Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands; Cattedra e Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Universita di Verona, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham
R. Giel
Affiliation:
Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie, Rijks Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands; Cattedra e Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Universita di Verona, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham
G. H. M. M. Ten Horn
Affiliation:
Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie, Rijks Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands; Cattedra e Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Universita di Verona, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham
M. Balestrieri
Affiliation:
Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie, Rijks Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands; Cattedra e Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Universita di Verona, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham
N. Davies
Affiliation:
Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie, Rijks Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands; Cattedra e Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Universita di Verona, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham
*
1Address for correspondence. Dr S. Sytema, Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, Psychiatrische Universiteitskliniek. Afdeling Sociale Psychiatrie. Postbus 30001. 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

Synopsis

In total, 103 cases were randomly selected from the Groningen, Nottingham and South Verona registers. Six raters (two in each of the register areas) were involved in coding these cases according to the ICD–9. In general, interrater agreement was satisfactory when codes were grouped into a limited number of categories. Nevertheless, considerable variation in agreement rates was found. We distinguished three steps in the diagnostic process. The selected logistic model showed that reliability is significantly affected in each step, but only substantial in the first where clinicians formulate a diagnosis.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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