Spanish versions of assessment tools for functioning and activities daily living in schizophrenia: What do they measure?

Abstract

From the psychosocial rehabilitation perspective, the use of instruments based on a theoretical framework to assess the level of functioning in activities of daily living with good clinimetric properties is essential for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. In Spain, scales translated from other languages, usually English, are very frequently used; this involves a process of adaptation, beyond translation. The objective of this study was to review and compare a series of different scales used in psychosocial functioning assessment in the Spanish population focused on daily living activities. The selected instruments have been adapted into Spanish over the last 19 years and are aimed at people diagnosed with a severe mental disorder, usually schizophrenia. The results showed that the number of instruments adapted to the Spanish population was small, with several shortcomings in the adaptation process, either in translation, the confusion of concepts or metric properties of the scale. In conclusion, the conceptualisation and assessment of functioning in this field remains a complex and controversial issue. The development of new instruments based on a theoretical approach, such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)1 may be a great help in improving the psychosocial treatment of people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.