Interrater Reliability of the Alcoholism Denial Rating Scale

Abstract

The Denial Rating Scale (DRS) was developed to measure alcoholic denial. A previous study examined the interrater reliability of the DRS using only written treatment summaries. Estimates ranged from 0.67 to 0.77 (P < 0.001). In the current study, the investigators hypothesized that the reliability of the ratings would be enhanced with minimal training if they used a semistructured interview with a decision tree as well as videotaped interviews. Twenty interviews of voluntary alcoholic subjects were videotaped. Both investigators and five therapists from an alcoholism clinic participated in the study by rating the denial level of the subjects on the tapes. Through the use of the semistructured interview and the decision tree model, the interrater reliability was improved. Current estimates ranged from 0.827 to 0.966 (P < 0.001).