Psychometric Properties and Clinical Resources of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 in Argentina:...

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the 10-item Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) in terms of change sensitivity and to develop clinical resources to support its use in routine practice for the Argentine adult population. Specifically, it explored the differentiation between clinical and non-clinical groups using traditional and data-driven approaches to determine clinical cut-off scores.

Two independent samples were included: a cross-sectional sample (n = 637) composed of individuals from the general population and patients initiating therapy, and a longitudinal clinical sample (n = 148) assessed session-by-session. Psychometric analyses included factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity. Sensitivity to change was assessed through standardized effect sizes and mixed-effects modeling. Clinical cut-off scores were estimated using therapy status and data-driven clustering methods.

The CORE-10 showed good internal consistency and a unidimensional factor structure with excellent fit. Strong concurrent and acceptable divergent validity were found. Moderate internal responsiveness was observed, and longitudinal analyses confirmed a significant reduction in CORE-10 scores over time. Clustering methods outperformed traditional therapy-status classifications, yielding more consistent and interpretable groupings. The optimal cut-off score derived from K-Means clustering was 1.39 (SD = 0.36; 95% CI [1.36, 1.42]). The reliable change index values were comparable to previous studies.

The CORE-10 is a reliable and valid tool for monitoring psychological distress and change in Argentine psychotherapy settings. Beyond supporting its psychometric robustness, this study contributes practical, data-informed resources to improve clinical decision-making and routine outcome monitoring.