IMPROVING THE USEFULNESS OF THE KAROLINSKA PSYCHODYNAMIC PROFILE IN RESEARCH - PROPOSALS FROM A RELIABILITY STUDY

The interrater reliability of data obtained by use of the Karolinska P sychodynamic Profile (KAPP) was tested among 60 women seeking treatmen t for drinking problems. The first rater had a psychodynamic backgroun d but was minimally trained rating the KAPP subscales and performing K APP interviews. Independent, blind ratings of audiotaped interviews by an experienced KAPP rater revealed that 8 of the subscales obtained s atisfactory reliability, whereas 6 subscales showed unsatisfactory rel iability. Furthermore, data for one subscale (normopathy) showed a zer o correlation between raters, probably due to the novelty of the const ruct. Additionally 3 subscales related to bodily aspects were of littl e clinical significance among the present study group. Our data were c ompared with data from previous KAPP reliability studies, and the reas ons for similarities and discrepancies of results are discussed.