Table 3

The criteria of validity for animal models.

Kind of validity

Aspect of validity

Object of validity (animal/human similarity of...)

homological validity

species validity

Species

strain validity

strain

pathogenic validity

ontopathogenic validity

interaction transforming an initial organism into a vulnerable organism.

triggering validity

interaction transforming an initial or a vulnerable organism into a pathological organism.

mechanistic validity

theoretical cognitive or neurobiological mechanisms producing the observable effects of the disease.

face validity

ethological validity

behavioral symptoms of the disease

biomarker validity

biomarkers associated with the disease

predictive validity

induction validity

relation between the triggering factor and the observable effects of the disease.

remission validity

relation between the therapeutic agent and the observable effects of the disease.

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