Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
The ADL taxonomy for persons with mental disorders - adaptation and evaluation
Kajsa Lidström Holmqvist1, Marie Holmefur2
1a University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health , Örebro University , Örebro , Sweden.
Background:
There is a lack of occupation-focused instruments to assess Activities of Daily Living (ADL) that are intended for persons with mental disorders. The ADL Taxonomy is an instrument that is widely-used within clinical practice for persons with physical impairment. The aim of this study was to adapt the ADL Taxonomy for persons with mental disorders and evaluate its validity.
Methods:
An expert group of Occupational Therapists (OTs) from psychiatric care adapted the ADL Taxonomy to fit the client group, including creating three new items. OTs in psychiatric care collected client data and evaluated the instrument for usability. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate the contruct validity of 16 activities separately.
Results:
The OTs collected 123 assessments from clients with various mental disorders. Ten activities had excellent, and four had acceptable, psychometric properties with regard to item and person fit and unidimensionality. The activity managing the day/time gave complex results and would benefit from further development. The OTs found the test version intelligible, relevant and easy to use.
Conclusions:
The ADL Taxonomy for persons with mental disorders has 16 activities with three to six actions each, and is now ready for clinical use.
Related Concept Videos
Taxonomy
Hierarchy of Taxonomy
The hierarchy that Carolus Linnaeus first...
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

