title: Line staff use of the behavioral observation system: assessment of depression scale validity and cut scores.
abstract: The Behavioral Observation System (BOS) is an objective behavioral tool used by non-degreed line staff to assess depression, mania, psychosis, and acting out in psychiatric inpatients. The current study uses the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-1A to provide evidence for convergent validity for the BOS Depression Scale and to determine effective cut-scores to assist in BOS interpretation. Findings support substantial correlational agreement between the BOS Depression Scale and the BDI. A discriminant function analysis established a "hit rate" of 82% using a Depression Scale score of 7 or greater to identify those with at least moderate levels of depression. The study data lend further credibility to the use of non-degreed line staff as a source of data that can aid in treatment decisions.
authors.affiliation: William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital/West Virginia University School of Medicine, Weston, West Virginia, USA. james.lepage@med.va.gov
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: LePage
authors.forename: Neil L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mogge
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DelBen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires