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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
How are we assessing functioning in schizophrenia? A need for a consensus approach.
1Center K.U. Leuven, university Psychiatric, campus Kortenberg, Belgium. jozef.peuskens@uc-kortenberg.be
Summary
Improving everyday living skills is crucial for individuals with schizophrenia, but assessing functioning is challenging. The EGOFORS initiative evaluated various instruments, including new questionnaires like FROGS and PSRS, to guide assessment domains and tools.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Everyday living skills are vital for functional recovery in schizophrenia.
- Evaluating appropriate functioning in schizophrenia presents significant challenges.
- Standardized assessment tools are needed to guide interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing and novel instruments for assessing everyday living skills in schizophrenia.
- To provide guidance on essential assessment domains and appropriate tools for clinical practice.
- To support the EGOFORS initiative's goal of improving functional outcomes in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- A multi-center European initiative (EGOFORS) tested several assessment instruments.
- Two new questionnaires, FROGS (Functional Rating of Global Skills) and PSRS (Problematic Symptoms of Schizophrenia Scale), were included.
- Instruments were evaluated across diverse clinical settings.
Main Results:
- The study identified key domains crucial for assessing everyday functioning in schizophrenia.
- The performance and utility of various assessment tools were compared.
- FROGS and PSRS demonstrated potential as valuable instruments for evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Standardized assessment of everyday living skills is essential for schizophrenia management.
- The evaluated instruments, including FROGS and PSRS, offer promising directions for assessment.
- Further research and validation are needed to optimize the use of these tools in clinical settings.
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