THE SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION INDEX (SDI) FOR PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS

The social dysfunction index (SDI) is a new measure designed to assess social dysfunction in schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses . It is intended to serve clinical and research purposes. Raters can b e readily trained and there is low respondent burden with its use. Goo d psychometric properties were identified in three studies (sample siz es 33, 67 and 113). The SDI assesses a wide and comprehensive range of social functioning, It includes objective assessment of dysfunction a nd subjective client assessment of satisfaction with functioning. It p roduces a summary score, a satisfaction score and a score for each of the nine components of social functioning assessed. Internal consisten cy is good (alpha=0.80). Inter-rater reliability is high (r=0.96). Use of the component scores was confirmed by factor analysis. There is mo dest correlation with other measures of social functioning. Evidence o f construct validity is demonstrated by findings of differences in soc ial dysfunction between subjects who lived independently vs. those who lived in boarding homes; differences between subjects who were unempl oyed vs. subjects who were employed; and independence of social functi oning from both age and education.