Concurrent validity of Indian disability evaluation and assessment scale with sociooccupational functioning scale in patients with schizophrenia

Background: The Government of India (GOI) has recommended the use of Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale (IDEAS) for the assessment and certification of disability in patients with mental illness. Although data are available in terms of internal consistency and construct validity of IDEAS, concurrent validity of IDEAS has rarely been evaluated. Aim: The aim was to study the concurrent validity of IDEAS with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFS) in patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight consenting patients with schizophrenia in remission were assessed for disability, functioning, and psychopathology using the IDEAS, SOFS, GAF, and Positive and Negative symptom scale (PANSS) respectively. Results: Mean total PANSS score was 51.3 (standard deviation SD 11.19). Disability (40%) was present in 84.8% of the sample. All the component scores of IDEAS (self-care, interpersonal activities, communication, and work), total IDEAS score, and Global IDEAS score correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with the three domains of SOFS (adaptive life skills, social appropriateness and communication, and interpersonal relationships) along with the total SOFS score. GAF total score had significant negative correlation (P < 0.001) with all the components of IDEAS, total IDEAS score and global IDEAS score. Higher residual psychopathology was also associated with overall higher disability as assessed by total IDEAS score and Global IDEAS score. Conclusions: This study shows that the GOI-modified IDEAS had good concurrent validity with global and sociooccupational functioning as assessed by GAF and SOFS respectively.