The Social Functioning Questionnaire: a rapid and robust measure of perceived functioning

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) is an eight-item self-report scale derived from the Social Functioning Schedule (SFS).
• The SFQ was developed to provide a rapid assessment of perceived social function.
• The SFS has demonstrated good reliability and validity in non-psychotic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present detailed epidemiological and clinical data from studies involving over 4000 subjects assessed with the SFQ.
• To illustrate the associations of SFQ scores with various clinical and demographic factors.
• To further validate the SFQ in diverse populations and clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of new data from a national epidemiological study and a comparison of key-worker and subject versions of the SFQ.
• Reanalysis of data from three prior clinical studies: psychiatric emergencies, general practice patients, and recurrent psychotic illnesses.
• Examination of SFQ score range, relationship to other clinical measures, and changes over time in clinical trials.

Main Results:

• The mean SFQ score in 4164 subjects was 4.6; a score of 10 or higher suggests poor social functioning.
• Individuals presenting with psychiatric emergencies had the lowest social function (mean 11.4), while general practice psychiatric patients had the highest (mean 7.7).
• SFQ scores showed normal distribution in psychiatric populations and skewed distribution in the general population, with stability over time and association with mental health status.

Conclusions:

• The SFQ is a valid and reliable measure for assessing social functioning in diverse populations.
• SFQ scores effectively differentiate social functioning levels across clinical groups and correlate with mental health status.
• The SFQ demonstrates consistent performance across different versions and populations, including ethnic minorities.