Assessing risk and emotional disturbance using the CORE-OM and HoNOS outcome measures at the interface between primary and secondary mental healthcare

AIMS AND METHOD: There is interest in how outcome measures routinely used in mental health settings compare with each other in assessing risk and emotional disturbance. The relation between the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), a client-completed measure, and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS), a clinician-completed measure, was explored using data from 297 clients referred to secondary services by a primary care mental health liaison team.

RESULTS: The correlation between CORE-OM and HoNOS was 0.50, with cluster and factor analyses revealing overlap between the measures in assessing risk to self and others and general emotional issues.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although the measures are typically used in different settings, the overlap suggests that both might be useful in any setting where assessment for mental health problems and risk is needed