THE RELIABILITY OF THE ICD-10 PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES

Two studies on the interrater reliability of the ICD-10 psychiatric diagnoses were carried out on two consecutive series of patients in the United Arab Emirates in 1991 and 1992. A consecutive series of 31 patients was assessed independently by two clinicians. A reasonable level of agreement in the diagnostic judgement was obtained, 0.61 (kappa). Six months later the same clinicians assessed jointly another consecutive series of 22 patients. The interrater reliability rose to 0.82. The authors discuss the reasons behind the variability in the diagnostic judgements and the means by which the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses in developing countries can be further improved.