Special Section on the GAF: Selection of Outcome Assessment Instruments for Inpatients With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

The purpose of this article is to describe a procedure to assist in selecting outcome measures for inpatients treated at a state psychiatric hospital. The procedure combines evidence-based criteria from the literature, instruments shown to be sensitive to change in clinical trials, and the perspectives of a multidisciplinary team of researchers, administrators, providers, and patient advocates. Recent efficacy and effectiveness studies were used to identify recurrently used outcome instruments. A computerized search of more than 30 bibliographic databases, such as PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Social SciSearch, and ERIC, was conducted for articles published between 1990 and 2002. Comparisons of the most frequently used instruments were made on seven criteria proposed as best-practice indicators, including sensitivity to change and robust psychometrics. The sample produced 110 measures. Rater-completed instruments were represented more often than patient-completed ones. However, considerable variability across both methods was found on the criteria. The limited resources associated with publicly funded inpatient facilities led to a recommendation to select at least one rater-completed and one patient-completed instrument.