title: Development and preliminary validation of the First Episode Social Functioning Scale for early psychosis.
abstract: The current study aimed at developing and conducting a preliminary validation a novel social functioning measure for people with early psychosis. The First Episode Social Functioning Scale (FESFS) was developed to cover many domains specific to this population in their contemporary reality. The self-report version of the FESFS was administered to 203 individuals receiving services in first episode clinics. Scores of the GAF, SOFAS, Social Functioning Scale and BPRS were also obtained for parts of the sample to calculate convergent and discriminant validity. A subgroup also answered the FESFS at several time points during treatment in order to determine sensibility to change. Principal component factor analyses and internal consistency analyses revealed the following nine factors with alphas ranging from 0.63 to 0.80: Friendships and social activities, Independent living skills, Interacting with people, Family, Intimacy, Relationships and social activities at work, Work abilities, Relationships and social activities at school, Educational abilities. Convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated, as well as sensitivity to change. Clinical and research utility of the FESFS are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, C-358, 90 Vincent d'Indy Street, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Que., Canada H3C 3J7. Electronic address: tania.lecomte@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lecomte
authors.affiliation: Centre for Action in Work Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, School of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, 150 Place Charles Le Moyne, Bureau 200, Longueuil, QC, Canada J4K 0A8.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corbière
authors.affiliation: Early Psychosis Intervention Program, Peace Arch Hospital, 15521 Russell Avenue, White Rock, BC, Canada V4B 2R4.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehmann
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4Z6.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Addington
authors.affiliation: Clinique JAP, CHUM-Notre-Dame Hospital, Louis-Charles Simard Building, 6th Floor, 2065 Alexandre-de Sève Street, Montreal, QC, Canada H2L 2W5.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdel-Baki
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macewan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Development; Early psychosis; First Episode Social Functioning Scale; Validation