Abstract
Objective: We introduce Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes for Psychic Function and Energy (UBOM-4), a new brief test battery for evaluating psychic function concerning intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination. To date, insufficient general population data on the UBOM have been collected. This study aimed to establish the normative values for the general population in UBOM-4 and examine the effects of age, sex, and mental health status on the values. Methods: The General Health Questionnaire, 12-item version (GHQ-12) and UBOM-4 were administered to 149 individuals working in or attending professional schools or universities (73 males, 76 females; age: 19 - 65 years). Participants were classified as healthy based on their GHQ-12 responses and psychiatrist interviews. Results: UBOM-4 measures (mean ± SD) were: pulse rate difference (PRD or UBOM-pulse), −0.72 ± 4.31 beats/min; ruler catching time (RCT or UBOM-ruler), 18.42 ± 3.73 cm; degree of randomness (DOR or UBOM-random), 0.94 ± 0.18; mean randomizing time (MRT or UBOM-time), 0.60 ± 0.31 sec. The Baum Test drawings were classified as usual (86%) and unusual patterns (14%). Sex effects were observed for RCT (UBOM-ruler) and DOR (UBOM-random), but not for PRD (UBOM-pulse) and MRT (UBOM-time). Therefore, the normative values for RCT (UBOM-ruler) (males: 17.37 ± 3.25 cm; females: 19.42 ± 3.90 cm) and DOR (UBOM-random) (males: 0.92 ± 0.18; females: 0.95 ± 0.18) should be differentiated by sex. The patterns of the Baum Test drawings were affected by age, with individuals over 51 years showing the unusual pattern more frequently (42%). Discussion: Compared to previous results for healthy individuals, the present results were similar for RCT (UBOM-ruler), DOR (UBOM-random), MRT (UBOM-time), and the drawing pattern, but different for PRD (UBOM-pulse). This difference is probably because PRD is sensitive to test situation habituation, sex of examiner, order of subtests, etc. Thus, PRD (UBOM-pulse) should be measured after the subject-examiner relationship stabilizes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that UBOM-4 can be widely used in clinical settings, utilizing the present results as a reference.
Highlights
In 1996, Utena and Miyake [1] proposed a brief, objective test battery of psychic function that comprehensively assessed intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination (Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes of Psychic Function and Energy, abbreviated as UBOM-4 or UBOM)
We introduce Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes for Psychic Function and Energy (UBOM-4), a new brief test battery for evaluating psychic function concerning intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination
This study aimed to establish the normative values for the general population in UBOM-4 and examine the effects of age, sex, and mental health status on the values
Summary
In 1996, Utena and Miyake [1] proposed a brief, objective test battery of psychic function that comprehensively assessed intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination (Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes of Psychic Function and Energy, abbreviated as UBOM-4 or UBOM). Dr Hiroshi Utena, a former professor of psychiatry at the Tokyo University who was famous for his research on schizophrenia, passed away in 2014 He had intended to develop a brief objective measure for assessing whole psychic function instead of evaluating psychopathology, because objective functional assessment, rather than evaluation of subjective phenomena, would help to facilitate shared decision making between patients and treatment staff. UBOM was proposed as a brief psychophysiological test battery to objectively measure and assess these four factors (Figure 1)
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