Reliability of the Camberwell Assessment of Need - European Version: EPSILON Study 6

BackgroundThe five-country European Psychiatric Services: Inputs Linked to Outcome Domains and Needs (EPSILON) Study aimed to develop standardised and reliable outcome instruments for people with schizophrenia. This paper reports reliability findings for the Camberwell Assessment of Need – European Version (CAN-EU).MethodThe CAN – EU was administered in each country, at two points in time to assess test – retest reliability, and was rated by two interviewers at the first administration. Cronbach's α, test–retest reliability and interrater reliability were compared between the five sites. Reliability coefficients and standard errors of measurement for summary scores were estimated.ResultsSites varied in levels and spread of needs. Alphas were 0.48, 0.58 and 0.64 for total, met and unmet needs respectively. Test–retest reliability estimates, pooled over sites, were 0.85 for the total needs, 0.69 for met needs and 0.78 for unmet needs. Pooled estimates for interrater reliability were higher, at 0.94, 0.85 and 0.79 for total, met and unmet needs respectively. There were statistically significant differences in interrater reliability between sites.ConclusionThe results confirm the feasibility of using CAN–EU across sites in Europe and its psychometric adequacy.