[The Health of Nation Outcome Scale as clinical outcome indicator in elderly psychiatry]

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales65+(HoNOS65+) seems to be a useful instrument for effect measuring in elderly psychiatry. The instrument is implemented as an outcome measure within a psychiatric unit for older persons. From 244 patients a repeated assessment is completed: at the start of the treatment and at discharge. Our goal is to determine the sensitivity of change of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales65+ for patients who are in treatment for a limited period. The sensitivity of change is examined for outpatients and inpatients and for four diagnostic groups (mood disorders, organic disorders, psychotic disorders and others) according to their DSM-IV diagnoses. Comparisons between first and second assessment were done using pairwise t-tests. Inpatients as well as outpatients showed a significant change between intake and discharge. This also holds for all four diagnostic groups. The conclusion is that the HoNOS 65+ is sensitive to change and meets the criteria for a clinical outcome indicator in elderly psychiatric patients.