In the construction of the BECAD and ECADI batteries, the usual research methods in the development of behavioural assessment instruments have been followed.
In addition, we used the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a theoretical framework. The ICF is part of their family of classifications for health and is proposed as a complement to diagnosis.
In the chapter ‘Disability assessment’ we present a practical application of the ICF in mental health. (Moro y otros (2020): Evaluación de la discapacidad. En C. Marín (coord.) Guía práctica de evaluación en psicología clínica. Desarrollo de competencias. Madrid. Editorial Pirámide).
This work has been made possible thanks to funding obtained in different public calls for proposals over the years. The validation of our disability assessment scales is the subject of two doctoral theses directed in the team, and several master’s degree final projects.
The activities chapter, the basis of battery construction
Activities are organised from the most basic level, which includes perception with looking and listening, to more complex social activities. The ICF is not an assessment procedure, but a classification or catalogue of functions and structures, activities and environmental factors, leaving it to the discretion of researchers and clinicians to use different assessment procedures.
While for the assessment of functions and structures there are sufficient assessment methods with adequate quality guarantees, for activities and participation we found a variety of instruments, many developed with theoretical models prior to ICF, which, in our case, seemed inadequate for the rehabilitation of our patients.
In this section we include research results published in articles, book chapters and conference papers.
Our working method
The process started several years ago and began with a detailed study of the ICF, discussion with several expert groups, a pilot study with an initial draft and the first statistical analyses.
Research on the metric properties of the battery and its usefulness has had different strands. Firstly, initial studies were carried out describing the development process and the modification of scales according to empirical results.
The first draft followed the same structure of the ICF and based on the factor analyses we have made modifications to this structure.
We have also studied the relationships between the BECAD and other instruments for assessing autonomy and disability in different clinical samples. Finally, since the purpose of the BECAD has been mainly practical from the beginning of the project, its usefulness in applied contexts has been studied.
UTILITY
The sensitivity of the BECAD scales for setting intervention targets and measuring outcomes has been studied in different samples.