Validation of the French versions of two brief, clinician-friendly outcome monitoring tools: the ORS and SRS

Abstract

While Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) of change and therapeutic alliance is proving to be a promising way to address the issues of drop-out and client deterioration in psychotherapy, at present ROM is infrequently employed in French-speaking contexts. This study aimed at testing psychometric properties of the French versions of two popular and widely used ROM tools in the Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS): The Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and Session Rating Scale (SRS). The project necessitated a multiple study survey with online data collection of clinical and non-clinical samples, to investigate psychometric qualities (including factorial structure of the two scales), using parametric and non-parametric procedures. In addition, we documented, preliminary estimates regarding clinical cut-off and reliable change indices for ORS. Both ORS and SRS have good psychometric properties regarding brevity. Reliability, normative data, a reliable change index and scale thresholds are reported for the French versions. The clinical use of PCOMS appears promising regarding delivering, regulation, and improvement of psychotherapy in French-speaking areas.