title: Pre-admission adaptive functioning as a measure of prognosis in psychiatric inpatients.
abstract: This prospective study examined the concept of pre-admission adaptive functioning and its relationship with outcome. Pre-admission adaptive functioning was assessed by the self-report Social Adjustment Scale and the therapist rated Axis V of DSM-III. In addition, an instrument designed to look separately at the areas of interpersonal relationships, occupational functioning and use of leisure time was given to a subgroup. These measures were compared with outcome at six months as assessed by the General Health Questionnaire. Adaptive functioning proved to be a significant predictor of outcome, with the Social Adjustment Scale being a better predictor than Axis V for the whole group. In contrast, for patients with schizophrenia, the initial Axis V rating was the best predictor of the outcome score. Statistically significant correlations were found between the three areas of adaptive functioning for the group as a whole but, when examined by diagnosis, they proved to be statistically significant only in the schizophrenia sub-group, suggesting that it would be invaluable to rate the three areas separately in non-psychotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Wellington Clinical School of Medicine, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mellsop
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peace
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernando
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D012917:Social Adjustment