THE MOS 36-ITEM SHORT-FORM HEALTH SURVEY - RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, ANDPRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC OUTPATIENTS

OBJECTIVES. The authors test the reliability and validity of the Medic al Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) as a writte n, self-administered survey in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS. Thirty-six schizophrenic outpatients completed a written and oral form of the SF-36. A psychiatrist rated the patients using the B rief Psychiatric Rating Scale to determine severity of psychopathology . Cognitive functioning and academic achievement were also assessed. I nternal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discrimin ative validity of the oral and written versions were determined. RESUL TS. The SF-Sti in both forms was shown to have good internal consisten cy, stability, and concurrent validity. The mental health SF-36 subsca les had poor discriminant validity, compared with the physical funtion ing scale that demonstrated good discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS. T he validity of using the written form of the SF-36 on a sample of pati ents with chronic mental illness was demonstrated. The SF-36 appears t o be an appropriate outcome measure for changes in physical and role f unctioning in consumers of outpatient mental health programs.