Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychiatric Assessment Instruments Developed by the World Health Organization

  • Chapter
Mental Health Outcome Measures

Abstract

Over the past 30 years the World Health Organization (WHO) has produced a number of assessment instruments intended for national and cross-cultural psychiatric research. WHO instruments have been tested and used in many collaborative studies involving more than 100 centres in different parts of the world. This article reviews the main WHO instruments for the assessment of (a) psychopathology, (b) disability, quality of life and satisfaction, (c) services, and (d) environment, and risks to mental health. The principles used in the development of WHO instruments, their translation and their use across cultures and settings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 3rd edn, revised (DSM-III-R). APA, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn (DSM-IV). APA, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Babor TF, de la Fuente JR, Saunders JB, Grant M (1989) AUDIT, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Guidelines for use in primary health care. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett LA, Janca A, Grant BP, Sartorius N (1993) Boundaries between normal and pathological drinking: a cross-cultural comparison. Alcohol Health Res World 17:190–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertolote J (1994) Quality assurance in mental health care: checklists and glossaries, vol 1. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Beusenberg M, Orley J (1994) A user’s guide to the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper JE, Jablensky A, Sartorius N (1990) WHO collaborative studies on acute psychoses using the SCAAPS schedule. In: Stefanis CN et al (eds) Psychiatry: a world perspective, vol. 1. Classification and psychopathology, child psychiatry, substance use. (International congress series) Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 185–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Cottier LB, Robins LN, Grant BF, Blaine J, Towle LH, Wittchen HU, Sartorius N, Altamura AC, Andrews G, Burke JD, Dingemans PR, Droux A, Farmer A, Helzer JE, Janca A, Lepine JP, Miranda CT, Pull C, Regier DA, Rubio-Stipec M, Sandanger I, Smeets R, Tacchini G, Tehrani M, Tipp JE, AUgulander C, Halikas J, Ingebrigsten G, Isaac M, Jenkins PL, Kuehne GE, Lyketsos G, Maier W, Kraus J, Liang Shu (1991) The CIDI-Core substance abuse and dependence questions: cross-cultural and nosological issues. Br J Psychiatry 159: 653–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gater R, Goldberg D, Sartorius N (1990) The WHO Pathways to Care Study In: Stefanis CN et al (eds) Psychiatry: a world perspective, vol 4. (International congress series) Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 75–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Gater R, De Almeida E, Sousa B, Barrientos G, Caraveo J, Chandrashekar CR, Dhadphale M, Goldberg D, Alkathiri AH, Mubbashar M, Silhan K, Thong D, Torres-Gonzales F, Sartorius N (1991) The pathways to psychiatric care: a cross-cultural study. Psychol Med 21: 761–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giel R, de Arango MV, Babikir AH, Bonifacio M, CHment CE, Harding TW, Ibrahim HHA, Ladrido-Ignacio L, Srinivasa Murthy R, Wig NN (1983) The burden of mental illness on the family. Results of observations in four developing countries. Acta Psychiatr Scand 68:186–201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harding TW, de Arango MV, Balthazar J, Climent CE, Ibrahim HHA, Ladrido-Ignacio L, Srinivasa Murthy R, Wig NN (1980) Mental disorders in primary health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries. Psychol Med 10: 231–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harding TW, Climent CE, Diop M, Giel R, Ibrahim HHA, Srinivasa Murthy R, Suleiman MA, Wig NN (1983) The WHO collaborative study on strategies for extending mental health care. II. The development of new research methods. Am J Psychiatry 140:1474–80

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hudelson PM (1994) Qualitative research for health programmes. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Isaac M, Janca A, Sartorius N (1994) The ICD-10 symptom glossary for mental disorders. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Jablensky A, Schwarz R, Tomow T (1980) WHO collaborative study on impairments and disabihties associated with schizophrenic disorders. A preliminary communication: objectives and methods. In: Stromgren E et al (eds) Epidemiological research as basis for the organization of extramural psychiatry. Acta Psychiatr Scand 62: (suppl. 286): 152–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Jablensky A, Sartorius N, Ernberg G, Anker M, Korten A, Cooper JE, Day R, Bertelsen A (1992) Schizophrenia: manifestations, incidence and course in different cultures: a World Health Organization ten-country study. Psychol Med [Monograph Suppl 20]

    Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Chandrashekar CR (1993) Catalogue of assessment instruments used in the studies coordinated by the WHO Mental Health Programme. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Robins LN, Cottier LB, Early TS (1992) CUnical observation of assessment using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI): an analysis of the CIDI field trials-wave II at the St. Louis site. Br J Psychiatry 160: 815–818

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Cstun TB, Early TS, Sartorius N (1993) The ICD-10 symptom checklist — a companion to the ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 28: 239–242

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Ãœstün TB, Sartorius N (1994 a) New versions of World Health Organization instruments for the assessment of mental disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand 90; 73–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Ãœstün TB, van Drimmelen J, Dittmann V, Isaac M (1994 b) The ICD-10 symptom checklist for mental disorders, version 2.0. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Janca A, Mezzich JE, Kastrup MC, Katschnig H, Lopez-Ibor JJ, Sartorius N (1994 c) The multiaxial presentation of the ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Presented at the 7th European Symposium of the Association of European Psychiatrists, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Ibor JJ, Sartorius N, Janca A, Kastrup M, Katschnig M, Mezzich J (1994) The ICD-10 multiaxial system: preUminary results of field trials. In: Beigel A, Lopez-Ibor JJ, Costa e Silva JA (eds) Past, present and future of psychiatry: IX World Congress of Psychiatry, vol 1. World Scientific, Singapore, pp 157–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Loranger A, Hirschfield R, Sartorius N, Regier D (1991) The WHO/ADAMHA international pilot study of personality disorders: background and purpose. J Pers Disord 5: 296–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loranger AW, Sartorius N, Andreo U A, Berger P, Bucheim P, Channabasavanna SM, Coid B, Dahl A, Diekstra R, Ferguson B, Jacobsberg LB, Mombour W, Pull C, Ono Y, Regier DA (1994) The international personality disorder examination (IPDE): the WHO/ADAMHA international pilot study of personality disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 51: 215–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robins LN, Wing JE, Wittchen H-U, Heizer JE, Babor TF, Burke JD, Farmer A, Jablensky A, Pickens R, Regier DA, Sartorius N, Towle LH (1988) The composite international diagnostic interview: an epidemiologic instrument suitable for use in conjunction with different diagnostic systems and in different cultures. Arch Gen Psychiatry 45: 1069–1077

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robins LN, Cottier LB, Babor T (1990) CIDI substance abuse module. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo

    Google Scholar 

  • Room R, Janca A, Bennett LA, Schmidt L, Sartorius N (in press) WHO cross-cultural applicability research on diagnosis and assessment of substance use disorders: an overview of methods and selected results. Addiction

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (1979) Cross-cultural psychiatry In: Kisker KP, Meyer JE, Muller C, Stromgren E (eds) Psychiatrie der Gegenwart, vol II, 2nd edn. Springer, BerHn Heidelberg New York, pp 711–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (1989) Recent research activities in WHO’s mental health programme. Psychol Med 19: 233–244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (1990) Cultural factors in the etiology of schizophrenia. In: Stefanis CN et al (eds) Psychiatry: a world perspective, vol 4. Social psychiatry ethics and law: history of psychiatry, psychiatric education. (International congress series) Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 33–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (1993) WHO’s work on the epidemiology of mental disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 28: 147–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (1995) SCAN translation. In: Wing JK, Sartorius N, Ustun TB (eds) Diagnosis and cUnical measurement in psychiatry — an instruction manual for the SCAN system. Cambridge University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N, Kuyken W (1994) Translation of health status instruments. In: Orley J, Kuyken W (eds) Quality of life assessment: international perspectives, pp 3–18

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N, Jablensky A, Gulbinat W, Ernberg G (1980) WHO collaborative study: assessment of depressive disorders. Preliminary communication. Psychol Med 10: 743–749

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N, Davidian H, Ernberg G, Fenton FR, Fujii I, Gastpar M, Gulbinat W, Jablensky A, Kielholz P, Lehmann HE, Naraghi M, Shimizu M, Shinfuku N, Takahashi R (1983) Depressive disorders in different cultures. Report on the WHO collaborative study on standardized assessment of depressive disorders. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders JB, Aasland OG (1987) WHO collaborative project on the identification and treatment of persons with harmful alcohol consumption. Report on phase I. Development of a screening instrument. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Arundsen A, Grant M (1993 a) Alcohol consumption and related problems among primary health care patients. WHO collaborative project on early detection of persons with harmful alcohol consumption. 1. Addiction 88: 339–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Babor TF, de la Fuente JR, Grant M (1993 b) Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). WHO collaborative project on early detection of persons with harmfid alcohol consumption. II. Addiction 88: 617–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Sell H, Nagpal R (1992) Assessment of subjective well-being. The subjective well-being inventory (SUBI). WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • The WHOQOL Group (1994) The development of the WHO Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (The WHOQOL). In: Orley J, Kuyken W (eds) Quality of life assessment: international perspectives. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg New York pp 41–57

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tsiantis J, Caldwell B, Dragonas T, Jegede RO, Lambidi A, Banaag C, Orley J (1991) Development of a WHO child care facility schedule (CCFS): a pilot collaborative study Bull WHO 69: 51–57

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Goor-Lambo G, Orley J, Poustka F, Rutter M (1990) Classification of abnormal psychosocial situations: preliminary report of a revision of a WHO scheme. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 31: 229–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing JK, Cooper JE, Sartorius N (1974) Measurement and classification of psychiatric symptoms: an instruction manual for the PSE and CATEGO programme. Cambridge University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing JK, Babor T, Brugha T, Burke J, Cooper JE, Giel R, Jablensky A, Regier D, Sartorius N (1990) SCAN: schedules for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry. Arch Gen Psychiatry 47: 589–593

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wittchen H-U, Robins LN, Cottier L, Sartorius N, Burke J, Regier D, Altamura AC, Andrews G, Dingemanns R, Droux A, Essau CA, Farmer A, Halikas J, Ingebrigsten G, Isaac M, Jenkins P, Kühne GE, Krause J, Lepine JP, Lyketsos G, Maier W, Miranda CT, Pfister H, Pull C, Rubio-Stipec M, Sandanger I, Smeets R, Tacchini G, Tehrani M (1991) Cross-cultural feasibility, reliability and sources of variance of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) — results of the muhicentre WHO/ADAMHA field trials (wave I). Br J Psychiatry 159: 645–653

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1973) Report on the international pilot study of schizophrenia, voi. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1980) International classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1984) Mental health care in developing countries: a critical appraisal of research findings. Report of a WHO study group. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1988) Draft multiaxial classification of child psychiatric disorders. Axis V. Associated abnormal psychosocial situations including glossary descriptions of items and diagnostic guidehnes. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1990 a) WHO child care facility schedule with user manual. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1990 b) Parent interview schedule. Draft for comments and field testing. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1991) Interview schedule for children. Draft for comments and field testing. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1992) The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: Chnical Descriptions And Diagnostic Guidelines. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1993 a) The Composite International Diagnostic Interview, Core Version 1.1. American Psychiatric Press, Washington, Dc

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1993 b) International Personality Disorder Examination. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1993 c) Computerized Cidi (Cidi-Auto). Who, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1994) Schedules For Clinical Assessment In Neuropsychiatry (Scan). American Psychiatric Research, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Boulevard de la Cluse 51, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    Norman Sartorius

  2. Division of Mental Health and Prevention of Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, CH-1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland

    Aleksandar Janca

Authors
  1. Norman Sartorius
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aleksandar Janca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychiatry, PRiSM, SE5 8AF, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, UK

    Graham Thornicroft

  2. Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, I-37134, Verona, Italy

    Michele Tansella

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sartorius, N., Janca, A. (1996). Psychiatric Assessment Instruments Developed by the World Health Organization. In: Thornicroft, G., Tansella, M. (eds) Mental Health Outcome Measures. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80202-7_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80202-7_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-80204-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-80202-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation