Assessment of self-determination in mental health: A new application field of the AUTODDIS scale.

Abstract

Objective: Self-determination enhances well-being and quality of life. It is also considered a fundamental pillar in improving the efficacy of interventions used to treat people with severe mental disorders (SMD). Yet the assessment of self-determination in relation to mental health requires further research. The aim of this study was to analyze the adequacy and psychometric properties of the AUTODDIS scale in a Spanish population with SMD. Method: The scale was originally developed and validated to assess self-determination in people with intellectual disability. The scale was administered to a sample of 333 adults with SMD (M = 47.6 years, SD = 11.68), most of whom were receiving treatment in an outpatient setting or at long-stay care facilities in six specialized centers in Spain. Results: The quality of the items and the reliability of the scale and its subscales were analyzed. External validity was also explored, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze the fit of the data to different models. The results indicate that the scale demonstrated sufficient evidence of reliability and validity, supporting the adequacy of its use in the field of mental health. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The use of this scale as a tool to assess self-determination and its domains in the mental health field is warranted. The article also discusses the need for more research and assessment tools to facilitate decision making by clinical and organizational stakeholders in promoting self-determination.