title: Empirically driven definitions of "good," "moderate," and "poor" levels of functioning in the treatment of schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study used an empirical approach to identify and validate the classification of patients with schizophrenia in "good," "moderate," or "poor" functioning groups based on the assessment of functional measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from a study of schizophrenia outpatients, patients were classified into functional groups using cluster analysis based on the Heinrich-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS), the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) Mental Component Summary Score, and a productivity measure. A three-cluster solution was chosen. Concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed. Criteria for classifying patient functioning as "good," "moderate," or "poor" were established using classification and regression tree analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three clusters consistently differentiated patients on the QLS, SF-36 Mental Component Summary Score, and productivity measure. The clusters also differed on other functional measures and were concordant with previous functional classifications. Concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity were good. "Good" functioning was identified as a QLS total score ≥ 84.5; "moderate" and "poor" functioning were separated by a cutoff score of 15.5 on the QLS intrapsychic foundation domain. Sensitivity ranged from 86 to 93 % and specificity from 89 to 99 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The heterogeneity in functioning of schizophrenia patients can be classified reliably in an empirical manner using specific cutoff scores on commonly used functional measures.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, US Outcomes Research, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46285, USA, ASCHER-SVANUM_HAYA@LILLY.COM.
authors.forename: Haya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ascher-Svanum
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novick
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aguado
authors.forename: Zhanglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines