Concurrent Validity of the Opcrit Diagnostic System

Abstract

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.Method: 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 consuming) best-estimate consensus diagnostic procedures.