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Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Elderly People (HoNOS 65+)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Alistair Burns*
Affiliation:
Withington Hospital, Manchester
Anne Beevor
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit, London
Paul Lelliott
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit, London
John Wing
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit, London
Andrew Blakey
Affiliation:
Macclesfield District General Hospital, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Martin Orrell
Affiliation:
University College London, Wolfson Building, London
John Mulinga
Affiliation:
Withington Hospital Manchester
Stuart Hadden
Affiliation:
Withington Hospital Manchester
*
Professor A. Burns, Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Withington Hospital, Manchester M20 8LR. Tel: 0161 291 3310; Fax: 0161 291 4364; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background

Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) have been developed to measure outcomes in people with mental health problems.

Aims

The particular physical and cognitive problems affecting older people requires a specific scale for their measurement. We describe the development of such a scale, named HoNOS 65+.

Method

Pilot, validity and reliability studies were carried out on an amended scale. Validity was assessed by comparison with existing scales reflecting depression, cognitive function, psychiatric symptomatology, activities of daily living and functional abilities. Reliability was measured in two centres.

Results

HoNOS 65+ was successfully amended to include specific aspects of mental health problems in older people including the phenomenology of depression, delusions occurring in the presence of dementia, incontinence and agitation/restlessness. HoNOS 65+ was able to discriminate between people suffering from organic and functional illnesses. Correlations with other scales indicated reasonable validity. Reliability was satisfactory.

Conclusions

Aversion of HoNOS 65+ is presented (see pp. 435–438, this issue) which is appropriate for use in elderly people with mental health problems.

Type
HoNOS Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

Sponsored by REMEDI, the Gatsby Foundation and the Headley Trust.

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