Assessing outcome in community mental health patients: a comparative analysis of measures.

Abstract

We undertook a twelve-month intervention study for community mental health patients using a number of measures administered at baseline and at twelve months. Overall improvement in that sample allowed for comparative analyses of the key measures in terms of their ability to measure and to predict outcome. To assess and compare the usefulness of each of the measures in predicting outcome status. A patient-rated quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, the DSM-III-R Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), the Life Skills Profile (LSP) and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were compared and evaluated in a sample of seventy-nine patients. The LSP appeared to measure disability only, while the HoNOS and the GAF assessed composite symptoms and general functioning. The HoNOS was identified as the most distinctive predictor of outcome. The utility of the HoNOS as an overall service measure is supported, while properties and likely utility of other measures in outcome studies are detailed.