Reliability and validity of the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2

Area of Science:

• Psychological Assessment
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Research

Background:

• The Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2) is utilized for client intake at a Midwestern university counseling center.
• Assessing the psychometric properties of widely used clinical instruments is crucial for evidence-based practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2) in a university counseling center population.
• To determine the internal consistency and convergent validity of the OQ-45.2 and its subscales.

Main Methods:

• A random sample of 220 client records from a university counseling center was analyzed.
• Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficients.
• Convergent validity was examined by correlating OQ-45.2 scores with clients' presenting concerns.

Main Results:

• Acceptable internal consistency was found for all OQ-45.2 subscales and the total score.
• High reliability coefficients were observed for the total score and Symptom Distress subscale.
• Strong evidence for validity was found for the OQ-45.2 total score and Symptom Distress subscale, with weaker support for Interpersonal Relations and Social Role subscales.

Conclusions:

• The OQ-45.2 demonstrates good reliability and validity, particularly for its total score and Symptom Distress subscale, in this university counseling center sample.
• The findings support the continued use of the OQ-45.2 for client assessment in similar clinical settings.
• Further research may be warranted to strengthen the evidence for the Interpersonal Relations and Social Role subscales.