The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and construct validity of the Consultation Expectations Scale for caregivers of elderly persons on the basis of Gerald Caplan's mental health consultation model. The reliability was determined by the Cronbach alpha coefficient ranging from .89 to .95 and the item-total correlation varying between .63 and .75. The content validity was demonstrated by an intra-class coefficient of .92 on all items evaluated by the judges. The internal consistency was determined by the correlations between the global scale and the subscales ranging from .67 to .91. The convergent validity relied on the positive and moderate correlations between the consultation expectations on the one hand and the need for support and psychological distress on the other. This scale demonstrated good psychometric qualities. Its utilisation should permit the consultants to keep the caregivers' point of view in mind, which will enable them to become more effective in their work.
