Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Health of Nation Outcome Scales for schizophrenia patients

Accessible Summary What is known on the subject? Functioning is one of the most affected areas in schizophrenia. Social, occupational and personal domains are affected, and these deficits are responsible for a major part of the disability associated with the disorder. There are several instruments to measure functioning, but the HoNOS provides a wide assessment of impairment in 12 areas of functioning. What does the paper add to existing knowledge? The Spanish version of the HoNOS shows good properties in terms of reliability and validity for use in schizophrenia patients. Although some authors divide the scale according to proposed underlying dimensions, in schizophrenia this division may not be appropriate. What are the implications for practice? A reliable and easy‐to‐use measure of impairment in different areas of functioning is useful for optimizing the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia. Introduction The HoNOS scale was designed for the assessment of psychosocial impairment in various domains. While it is widely used in psychiatric settings, it has not been validated in Spanish for use in patients with schizophrenia. Aim To examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the HoNOS scale in a sample of schizophrenia patients. Method A total of 194 individuals aged 18 to 65 with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses were evaluated using the HoNOS. Illness severity and level of functioning were also assessed. Results The HoNOS showed moderate internal consistency, good inter‐observer reliability and good test‐retest reliability. Factor analysis revealed an internal structure consisting of four factors, with item distribution differing from the theoretical dimensions proposed for the original scale. Discussion The Spanish version of the HoNOS scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychosocial impairment in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, further research is needed to determine its internal structure more accurately. Implications for Practice The HoNOS scale provides researchers and clinicians with a valid measure of impairment in twelve different domains, which can facilitate and guide the treatment of schizophrenia patients.