Relationship of the Brief UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) to multiple indicators of functioning in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the relationship between multiple indicators of 'real-world' functioning and scores on a brief performance-based measure of functional capacity known as the Brief University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) in a sample of 205 patients with either serious bipolar disorder (n = 89) or schizophrenia (n = 116).


METHODS
Participants were administered the UPSA-B and assessed on the following functional domains: (i) independent living status (e.g., residing independently as head of household, living in residential care facility); (ii) informant reports of functioning (e.g., work skills, daily living skills); (iii) educational attainment and estimated premorbid IQ as measured by years of education and Wide Range Achievement Test reading scores, respectively; and (iv) employment.


RESULTS
Better scores on the UPSA-B were associated with greater residential independence after controlling for age, diagnosis, and symptoms of psychopathology. Among both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients, higher UPSA-B scores were significantly related to better informant reports of functioning in daily living skills and work skills domains. Greater estimated premorbid IQ was associated with higher scores on the UPSA-B for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder participants. Participants who were employed scored higher on the UPSA-B when controlling for age and diagnosis, but not when controlling for symptoms of psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest the UPSA-B may be useful for assessing capacity for functioning in a number of domains in both people diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Mausbach
Brent T
BT
Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA. bmausbach@ucsd.edu
Harvey
Philip D
PD
Pulver
Ann E
AE
Depp
Colin A
CA
Wolyniec
Paula S
PS
Thornquist
Mary H
MH
Luke
James R
JR
McGrath
John A
JA
Bowie
Christopher R
CR
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis