DO DIFFERENT SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION CRITERIA REFLECT DISTINCT CONSTRUCTS

Four subjective evaluation criteria-self-rated symptoms, subjective qu ality of Life, self-rated needs, and patients' assessment of treatment -were examined to determine whether they reflect distinct constructs a nd to what extent they are correlated. The four criteria were assessed in 90 newly admitted schizophrenia patients, 170 long-term-hospitaliz ed schizophrenia patients, 154 patients with alcoholism admitted for t he short term, and 68 patients with alcoholism in long-term rehabilita tion, using identical instruments. The four criteria show substantial intercorrelations, except for assessment of treatment in the two acute treatment groups. One general factor explains between 43% and 55% of the variance in each group. Factor scores are associated with observer -rated psychopathology and objective data. The four criteria overlap i n different patient groups, except in the assessment of treatment in a cute groups. The use of more than one subjective criterion should occu r only with specific hypotheses. A better theoretical framework is nee ded to explain the differences between and interrelationships of subje ctive evaluation criteria.