Towards a standardised brief outcome measure: psychometric properties and utility of the CORE-OM.
BACKGROUND
An acceptable, standardised outcome measure to assess efficacy and effectiveness is needed across multiple disciplines offering psychological therapies.


OBJECTIVE
To present psychometric data on reliability, validity and sensitivity to change for the CORE-OM (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation--Outcome Measure).


METHODS
A 34-item self-report instrument was-developed, with domains of subjective well-being, symptoms, function and risk. Analysis includes internal reliability, test-retest reliability, socio-demographic differences, exploratory principal-component analysis, correlations with other instruments, differences between clinical and non-clinical samples and assessment of change within a clinical group.


RESULTS
Internal and test-retest reliability were good (0.75-0.95), as was convergent validity with seven other instruments, with large differences between clinical and non-clinical samples and good sensitivity to change.


CONCLUSIONS
The CORE-OM is a reliable and valid instrument with good sensitivity to change. It is acceptable in a wide range of practice settings.
Evans
Chris
C
Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust, Tavistock Centre, London, UK. chris@psyctc.org
Connell
Janice
J
Barkham
Michael
M
Margison
Frank
F
McGrath
Graeme
G
Mellor-Clark
John
J
Audin
Kerry
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome