The rating of symptoms by a psychiatrist and a non-psychiatrist: a study of patients referred from general practice.

A psychologist interviewing patients referred to the psychiatric service of a health centre rated twice as much morbidity, measured by total PSE score, as a psychiatrist interviewing equivalent patients. Scores on the self-rated GHQ showed no difference between the 2 groups. It is suggested that such differences could be avoided by giving careful attention to training interviewers.