Behavior and symptom identification scale 32: sensitivity to change over time.

To be useful in assessing treatment efficacy, an outcome measure must be sensitive to changes in ratings of symptoms and psychosocial functioning over time and to differences in change across consumers and be interpretable as to the extent of clinical improvement. Results are presented regarding the sensitivity of the BASIS-32 to changes in ratings of symptoms and psychosocial functioning among 1188 persons with severe and persistent mental illness after receiving a variety of clinical and psychosocial interventions in one behavioral health center over a 3-year period. Utilizing the Reliable Change Index, evidence was found for the sensitivity of the BASIS-32 to detect statistically reliable and clinically significant changes on 2 subscales of psychosocial functioning (relations with others and daily living/role functioning) and on the Depression/Anxiety subscale. For impulsive/addictive behavior and psychosis, and the overall BASIS-32 score, substantially less reliable change could be detected, although statistically significant differences were present.