title: Use of formal assessments among providers of residential services for the seriously mentally ill.
abstract: A survey of use of formal scales in assessment was sent to 1381 agencies that provide residential services to the seriously mentally ill. 271 residential agencies responded. A majority of respondents who used formal assessments used in-house measures. Scales were used most often in client care decisions. A substantial minority of respondents reported being somewhat or very dissatisfied with existing scales. Lack of predictive ability and staff time required were the most frequently cited difficulties. The study indicates a need for better assessments to aid client-care planning, and promote interagency communication.
authors.affiliation: SERV Centers of NJ, Inc., Trenton 08618.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muckenhoupt
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Robey
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment