The Brief Symptom Inventory and the Outcome Questionnaire-45 in the Assessment of the Outcome Quality of Mental Health Interventions

Abstract

Self-report questionnaires are economical instruments for routine outcome assessment. In this study, the performance of the German version of the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was evaluated when applied in analysis of the outcome quality of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions. Pre-post data from two inpatient samples (N = 5711) and one outpatient sample (N = 239) were analyzed. Critical differences (reliable change index) and cut-off points between functional and dysfunctional populations were calculated using the Jacobson and Truax method of calculating clinical significance. Overall, the results indicated that the BSI was more accurate than the OQ-45 in correctly classifying patients as clinical subjects. Nonetheless, even with the BSI, about 25% of inpatients with schizophrenia attained a score at admission below the clinical cut-off. Both questionnaires exhibited the highest sensitivity to psychopathology with patients with personality disorders. When considering the differences in the prescores, both questionnaires showed the same sensitivity to change. The advantage of using these self-report measures is observed primarily in assessing outpatient psychotherapy outcome. In an inpatient setting two main problems—namely, the low response rate and the scarce sensitivity to psychopathology with severely ill patients—limit the usability of self-report questionnaires.

A mixed methods study of an online intervention to reduce perfectionism

“…The BSI-53 has been previously used in a community sample (depression: M = 0.42, SD = 0.65, anxiety: M = 0.45, SD = 0.60, hostility: M = 0.44, SD = 0.60) and outpatient sample (depression: M = 1.99, SD = 1.10, anxiety: M = 1.87, SD = 1.03, hostility: M = 1.39, SD = 1.02; Ryan, 2007 ). Previous research has also shown that the BSI-53 is sensitive to intervention-related change (Crameri et al, 2016 ), and the depression, anxiety, and hostility subscales to have acceptable internal consistency and test re-test reliability (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983 ). In the current study the measure showed good internal consistency at baseline and follow-up (depression: BL α = .87, FU α = .89; anxiety: BL α = .87, α = .89; hostility: BL α = .81, FU α = .82).…”

Blueberries Improve Abdominal Symptoms, Well-Being and Functioning in Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

“…Quality of life and areas of life functioning (symptoms, interpersonal problems, social role functioning) using the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) scales in German, applying a cut-off score of >63 for clinically significant compromise [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Maternal Sociodemographic Factors Are Associated with Methylphenidate Initiation in Children in the Netherlands: A Population-Based Study

“…This is a validated self-report questionnaire, which includes a spectrum of psychiatric symptoms. A weighted sum score above 0.75 means that clinically relevant psychopathology symptoms were present [ 33 , 34 ]. In addition, we considered the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy (the most frequently used antidepressant in our study), which was obtained from pharmacy records and self-reported information [ 35 ].…”