Open AccessThe validity of the German version of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS‐D): a clinician‐rating for the differential assessment of the severity of mental disorders
Author(s) -
Andreas Sylke,
Harfst Timo,
Rabung Sven,
Mestel Robert,
Schauenburg Henning,
Hausberg Maria,
Kawski Stephan,
Koch Uwe,
Schulz Holger
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of methods in psychiatric research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.275
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1557-0657
pISSN - 1049-8931
DOI - 10.1002/mpr.305
Subject(s) - discriminant validity , convergent validity , psychology , clinical psychology , predictive validity , concurrent validity , psychiatry , criterion validity , rating scale , test validity , mental health , construct validity , german , psychometrics , developmental psychology , internal consistency , archaeology , history
The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) is an internationally‐established clinician‐rating instrument for the differential assessment of the severity of patients with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the German version of the HoNOS (HoNOS‐D). Evaluation of validity, including factor validity, convergent and discriminant validity and sensitivity to change, was conducted on a large, virtually representative, clinical sample of patients with mental disorders in inpatient psychotherapy (Study 1, N = 3169). Additional assessment of criterion‐based validity was completed using another clinical sample of patients with mental disorders (Study 2, N = 55). Although factor validity of the HoNOS‐D and its total score could not be confirmed as expected, the majority of single items of the HoNOS‐D proved to be valid in terms of convergent validity, criterion‐based validity and sensitivity to change. Hence, single items, rather than the total score of the HoNOS‐D, can be recommended for obtaining a picture of the impairment of patients with mental disorders in the clinical setting. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.