Table 1

Criteria for animal models of depression and of anxiety disorders

Reference

N

Predictive validity

Face validity

Construct validity

Others

[12]

8

Specificity

Efficiency

Speed

Simplicity

Reproducibility

Adequate design

Adequate data processing

Correlation with other tests

[13]

5

Similar response to treatments

Analogy of symptoms

Observable and measurable behavioral changes

Interobserver agreement Reproducibility of the system

[14]

4

Is the model thorough in describing features of its cures?

Similarity of cure

Symptoms similarity

Is the model thorough in describing features of its cause?

Similarity of physiology, cause

Does model describe the disorder or a sub-category?

Is the model thorough in describing features of its prevention? Similarity of prevention

[17]

3

Predictability

Isomorphism

Homology

[9]

6

Predictive validity

Face validity

Construct validity

Reliability

Etiological validity

Convergent validity

Discriminant validity

[28]

3

Predictive

Face

Construct

[18]

6

Predictive

Face

Etiological validity

Construct validity

Convergent validity

Reliability

[19]

3

Predictive

Face

Construct

The criteria proposed by various authors are compared to the three criteria elaborated by Willner (1994) [15]. N: number of proposed criteria.

Belzung and Lemoine Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders 2011 1:9   doi:10.1186/2045-5380-1-9