Resources in schizophrenic patients. Validity testing of a new rating scale to assess health features

Biopsychosocial concepts and Antonovsky's salutogenesis model gave rise to new treatment approaches and research prospects in health-related fields. Also in psychiatry, there is increasing interest to obtain information on patients' resources. There are, nevertheless, only a few instruments developed particularly for this assessment. The new EGA rating scale offers the possibility to assess patient resources as abilities and health-maintaining features in four areas of life. To test the validity of the EGA, 39 schizophrenic patients participated in the current study. Those with more health-maintaining features in the EGA showed significantly fewer psychic and somatic symptoms (SCL-90 R), better social and occupational functioning (SOFAS), higher sense of coherence (SOC), and better social adjustment (FSI). They were significantly younger at the beginning of their disease and had more frequently held jobs during the previous 12 months. The findings point to satisfactory concept- and criterion-related validity and reliability of the EGA rating scale as well as to its possible application in course studies, individual diagnosis, therapy evaluation, and indication. Early medical and therapeutic intervention and increased use of working aid programs are recommended.