This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal

Rationale, Reliability, and Validity

Jean Endicott, PhD; Robert L. Spitzer, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1972;27(5):678-687.

Abstract
Many research questions in psychiatry can be adequately studied by cross-sectional evaluations of psychopathology at one or more points in time, such as before and after evaluation of various treatment modalities. Other important questions relevant to issues such as diagnosis and prognosis can only be answered satisfactorily by including historical information. There are, however, practically no standardized procedures for obtaining and recording historical information. This paper describes a new instrument, the Current and Past Psychopathology Scales (CAPPS), which can be used for evaluating both current and past psychopathology and social functioning in patients and nonpatients. The coverage includes dimensions of importance in the evaluation of severity of illness, prognosis, and diagnosis. Individuals from a variety of disciplines and with various levels of education have been trained to use it with a degree of reliability and validity satisfactory for research purposes.

Author Affiliations
New York

From the Evaluation Section, Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, and the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 18, 1971.

Reprint requests to Evaluation Section, Biometrics Research, 722 W 168th St, New York 10032 (Dr. Endicott).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Neurobehavioral Deficits at Adolescence in Children at Risk for Schizophrenia: The Jerusalem Infant Development Study
Hans et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:741-748.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Family Caregivers' Criticism of Patients With Schizophrenia
Harrison et al.
Psychiatr. Serv. 1998;49:918-924.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Behavioral Precursors of Schizophrenia Spectrum: A Prospective Study
Parnas et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1982;39:658-664.
ABSTRACT  

A Diagnostic Interview: The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia
Endicott and Spitzer
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1978;35:837-844.
ABSTRACT  

The Family History Method Using Diagnostic Criteria: Reliability and Validity
Andreasen et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1977;34:1229-1235.
ABSTRACT  

Schizophrenics' Adopting Parents: Psychiatric Status
Wender et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1977;34:777-784.
ABSTRACT  

Reliability of Psychiatric Diagnosis: I. A Methodological Review
Helzer et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1977;34:129-133.
ABSTRACT  

Psychopathology and Mood During Heroin Use: Acute vs Chronic Effects
Mirin et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976;33:1503-1508.
ABSTRACT  

A Behavioral Paradigm for the Evaluation of
Meyer et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976;33:371-377.
ABSTRACT  

Accuracy of the Family History Method in Affective Illness: Comparison With Direct Interviews in Family Studies
Mendlewicz et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1975;32:309-314.
ABSTRACT  

The Assessment of Social Adjustment: A Review of Techniques
Weissman
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1975;32:357-365.
ABSTRACT  

Three Computer Diagnosis Methods Compared
Fleiss et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1972;27:643-649.
ABSTRACT