Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Evaluating rater competency for CNS clinical trials.

Steven D Targum1

  • 1UBC-PharmaStar, Wayne, PA, USA. sdtargum@yahoo.com

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
|May 17, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Rater training significantly improves accuracy in clinical trials, regardless of prior experience. Repeated training enhances competency in rating scales like the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Phase 2 Clinical Trial of MK-1942, a Negative Allosteric Modulator of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2, for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Journal of clinical psychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Low incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms following treatment with a muscarinic agonist medication for schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia research·2026
Same author

A novel, experimental design to assess rapid antidepressant action: Results from a phase 1b randomized trial of NV-5138.

Journal of psychiatric research·2026
Same author

A heterotrimeric G protein (Gsα) biomarker may predict antidepressant response in subjects with major depressive disorder.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2025
Same author

Biomarker changes associated with fornix deep brain stimulation in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same author

A simple platelet biomarker is associated with symptom severity in major depressive disorder.

Molecular psychiatry·2025

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Research Methodology
  • Psychometric Assessment

Background:

  • Accurate ratings are crucial for documenting drug efficacy in clinical trials.
  • Rater competency with standardized instruments is essential for reliable data.
  • Previous clinical experience alone does not guarantee accurate ratings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate rater competency with key clinical rating scales.
  • To determine the impact of clinical experience versus rater training on competency.
  • To identify factors that improve rater accuracy in clinical trials.

Main Methods:

  • 1,241 raters scored videotaped interviews using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).
  • Rater competency was assessed by scoring deviations from established acceptable scores.
  • Data were analyzed to compare competency based on prior clinical experience and number of training sessions attended.

Main Results:

  • Clinical experience alone did not ensure rater competency.
  • Raters attending their first training session showed no significant difference in competency based on prior experience.
  • Participation in repeated rater training sessions significantly improved competency across all scales (HAM-A, HAM-D, YMRS).
  • Experienced raters (≥5 years) who attended multiple training sessions outperformed those attending their first session.

Conclusions:

  • Rater training demonstrably enhances competency in using clinical rating scales.
  • Comprehensive rater training programs are vital for improving data accuracy in clinical trials.
  • Implementing stringent rater eligibility and training protocols can optimize ratings competency.

Related Experiment Videos