Gs. Bruss et al., HAMILTON-ANXIETY-RATING-SCALE INTERVIEW GUIDE - JOINT INTERVIEW AND TEST-RETEST METHODS FOR INTERRATER RELIABILITY, Psychiatry research, 53(2), 1994, pp. 191-202
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) is the most widely used semis
tructured assessment scale in treatment outcome studies of anxiety. In
terrater reliability coefficients for the HARS have been previously re
ported. However, differences in the way clinicians assess symptom seve
rity may reduce reliability. A structured interview guide-The Hamilton
Anxiety Rating Scale Interview Guide (HARS-IG)-was developed to stand
ardize clinical probe questions and to minimize interrater variance. J
oint-interview and test-retest methods of interrater reliability asses
sment were used in a group of 30 inpatients. Intraclass coefficient ca
lculations revealed improved interrater agreement with the HARS-IG ver
sus the HARS. The findings of this study demonstrate that the HARS-IG
is a more reliable assessment instrument than the semistructured HARS
and that it meets established standards of reliability assessment.