HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Markowitz, J. C. Articles by Villalobos, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Markowitz, J. C. Articles by Villalobos, L. Related Collections Other Psychotherapy

Rater Agreement on Interpersonal Psychotherapy Problem Areas

Received November 15, 1999; revised March 15, 2000; accepted March 22, 2000. From the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Address correspondence to Dr. Markowitz, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 525 East 68th Street, Room 1322, New York, NY 10021.

There has been much outcome research on interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) but little investigation of its components. This study assessed interrater reliability of IPT therapists in identifying interpersonal problem areas and treatment foci from audiotapes of initial treatment sessions. Three IPT research psychotherapists assessed up to 18 audiotapes of dysthymic patients, using the Interpersonal Problem Area Rating Scale. Cohen's kappa was used to examine concordance between raters. Kappas for presence or absence of each of the four IPT problem areas were 0.87 (grief), 0.58 (role dispute), 1.0 (role transition), and 0.48 (interpersonal deficits). Kappa for agreement on a clinical focus was 0.82. IPT therapists agreed closely in rating problem areas and potential treatment foci, providing empirical support for potential therapist consistency in this treatment approach.

Key Words: Rater Agreement • Interpersonal Psychotherapy