The Camberwell Assessment of Need and Behaviour and Symptom Identification Scale as Routine Outcome Measures in a Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service

Abstract

While routine outcome measurement is being progressively introduced into mental health services, there is little evidence of its potential in disability rehabilitation and support services. We report the introduction of a measure of need and a self-report measure of mental health problems in such a service in which most of the consumers have a principal diagnosis of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. We found that just over half of the consumers with a key worker were able and willing to complete these instruments. On average, consumers' self-ratings suggested only moderate levels of mental health problems, and consumers with schizophrenia identified lower levels of need than their key workers. Assessments of need showed more stability over time than assessments of mental health problems.