Validation of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales.
BACKGROUND
The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were developed to assess the outcome of severe mental disorders in relation to the Health of the Nation Strategy for England.


OBJECTIVE
To validate the HoNOS.


METHODS
One hundred and fifteen patients were assessed by keyworkers using HoNOS, and by research workers using SCAN, SBS, and SRPS, and completing HoNOS in the light of this additional material. These assessments were repeated after 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The performance of HoNOS in the hands of keyworkers was generally poor, in relation both to the research workers' rating of HoNOS and to the criterion instruments. Performance was particularly poor when the change in scores was used as a measure of outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
There are serious problems in using HoNOS as a routine measure of clinical status in busy psychiatric services. Its performance is probably related to the training and experience of keyworkers. Sequential ratings are not a good method for assessing outcome. Managers and planners should be cautious in adopting HoNOS, but it is worthy consideration in developing a suite of locally agreed outcome measures.
Bebbington
P
P
University College London Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, UK.
Brugha
T
T
Hill
T
T
Marsden
L
L
Window
S
S
D015982:Bias; D016638:Critical Illness; D004739:England; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014504:Urban Health