Validated mental health assessment tools (general and specific)Beck Institute tools[1]The Beck Scales and Inventories are validated tools that can be used to measure progress in bothresearch and clinical settings. Most of these are not free of charge, but have been usedextensively in the past.The Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ) is designed to provide a cognitive profile identifyingspecific dysfunctional beliefs of patients. Mental health or medical professionals may obtain thequestionnaire and its scoring instructions directly from Beck Institute. Request the PBQ for free byemailing the Beck Institute. ([email protected])Benefits LimitationsHave been in use for a long time.Validated tools to measuretreatment response pre/postintervention and to assist in tailoringcognitive behaviour therapyapproachesCost. Probably more commonlyused in specialised mental healthfield and research settingReference1. The Beck Institute. Assessment ToolsBipolar Self-Assessment[1]This questionnaire screens for bipolar disorder through assessment of features of elevated mood.Benefits LimitationsFree of charge. Specificallydesigned to screen for bipolarfeaturesSpecific for bipolar features only asinitial screening test and does notprovide suicidal risk screeningcomponentReference1. The Blackdog Institute. Bipolar Self-Assessment DMI 10 (Depression in the medically ill)[1]The DMI-10 was initially designed to measure depression in the medically ill and avoids the use ofitems such as fatigue, sleep, appetite disturbance an
d weight change that are common to bothdepression and many illnesses.Benefits LimitationsFree of charge. Focuses only oncognitive based items looking at the‘mood stage of depression’Excludes non-cognitive features andsuicidalityReference1. The Blackdog Institute. DMI 10 (Depression in the medically ill)Hamilton Rating Scale for depression[1]The HDRS has been widely used and is a clinician administered depression scale, which sets itapart from other tools.Benefits LimitationsFree of charge, clinicianadministered assessment, multiplelanguages available, focus onmelancholic and physical symptomsof depression. Suicide screenpartially includedTakes 20 minutes to complete.Atypical symptoms of depressionsuch as hypersomnia are notassessedReference1. Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1960; 23:56–62.Hamilton Rating Scale for depression HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales), a measure of disability[1]The HoNos is a set of 12 rating scales to be completed by a ‘trained health practitioner withratings made on the basis of all available information and from routine assessment of thepatient.’[1]Benefits LimitationsClinician administered. Establishedversatile tool to measure pre/postintervention. Could use one or twospecific scales (depending onclinical presentation)Training required. Developed forassessment of very sick patientswithin the specialist mental healthservice in the UKReference1. Department of Health. HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales), a measure of disability