Validity and reliability of the Finnish version of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) in bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was developed for the clinical evaluation of functional impairment of patients suffering from bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to validate the Finnish version of FAST.


METHODS
Translation and back-translation of FAST were performed. Fifty patients with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth edition (DSM-IV) bipolar type I and II were interviewed at the Bipolar Disorder Research and Treatment Centre, City of Helsinki, Finland. Participants completed the FAST, the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) of DSM-IV, and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) as part of the assessment. Internal consistency and correlations between FAST and SOFAS and SDS were analysed. Twenty-five patients participated in a reliability assessment carried out 1 week apart by a different rater.


CONCLUSIONS
The internal consistency coefficient obtained was very good, with a Cronbach alpha of 0.870. Reliability of FAST was also found excellent (correlation between two measures r = 0.896, p < 0.001). A highly significant negative correlation between FAST and SOFAS scores was found (r = -0.723, p < 0.001). FAST and SDS were also highly significantly correlated (r = 0.742, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The psychometric validity and reliability of FAST in the Finnish sample of patients with bipolar disorder types I and II were good.
City of Helsinki, Social services and health care, Department of mental health and substance abuse, Bipolar Disorder Research and Treatment Centre, Nordenskiöldinkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Kirsi
K
Suominen
City of Helsinki, Social services and health care, Department of mental health and substance abuse, Bipolar Disorder Research and Treatment Centre, Nordenskiöldinkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Elina
E
Salminen
City of Helsinki, Social services and health care, Department of mental health and substance abuse, Bipolar Disorder Research and Treatment Centre, Nordenskiöldinkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Susanna
S
Lähteenmäki
City of Helsinki, Social services and health care, Department of mental health and substance abuse, Bipolar Disorder Research and Treatment Centre, Nordenskiöldinkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Tiina
T
Tupala
Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Välskärinkatu 12, 00260 Helsinki, Finland.
Erkki
E
Isometsä
Bipolar disorder; FAST; Functional assessment; Psychology; Rehabilitation; Reliability; Validity