title: Reliability and validity of the life functioning assessment inventory (L-FAI) for patients with psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functioning level is one of the major indicators of recovery in schizophrenia. It is important that the assessment of functioning is performed accurately. However, functioning evaluation is difficult due to the absence of specific anchor points in the widely used functioning assessment scales. We aimed to validate a new functioning scale, the life functioning assessment inventory (L-FAI), which assesses the functioning outcome of patients with psychosis in a more objective, and comprehensive manner. L-FAI assesses four life domains including work, social relationships, leisure, and homemaking. Specific and concrete anchor points are set in each of these domains.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reliability and validity of L-FAI were assessed in 32 patients with psychosis. Opinions towards the scale were also obtained from experienced mental health professionals and members of a local advocacy group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good inter-rater reliability (Cohen's kappa 0.67-0.97) and test-retest reliability (Cohen's kappa 0.67-0.86) were found. The scale has also been found to have good concurrent validity, correlating well with social and occupational functioning assessment scale (SOFAS) and role functioning scale (RFS) (Spearman's r 0.53-0.89). The scale was associated solely with negative symptoms (Spearman's r -0.48) but not with positive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-FAI is suited for both clinical and research purposes in evaluating functioning level in patients with psychosis. More research is needed to replicate the current study with a larger sample size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, 102, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, christy@lmhui.com.
authors.forename: Christy Lai-Ming
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Yuet-Keung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kwok-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Jennifer Yee-Man
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Gloria Hoi-Yan
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wing-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sherry Kit-Wa
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Edwin Ho-Ming
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eric Yu-Hai
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012951:Socialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*