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As qualitative research continues to adapt to technological advancements, the evaluation of data quality and quantity in online versus face-to-face focus groups becomes increasingly important. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore how the format of a focus group (online or in-person) influences the quality and quantity of data collected. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, the review analyzes a total of 45 cross-sectional studies published between 2000 and 2023, providing both quantitative and qualitative comparisons across various metrics, including word count, idea expression, participant interaction, and statements of agreement or disagreement. Word count was generally higher in face-to-face focus groups, suggesting a tendency for more extensive verbal expression. However, the total number of ideas expressed did not significantly differ between the two modalities. Qualitatively, 62.5% of studies reported more detailed responses in face-to-face focus groups, while asynchronous online focus groups were found to elicit more expansive responses in some instances. In terms of the characteristics of focus groups, synchronous formats were more common for online focus groups, with the duration of sessions varying widely across the two modalities. These results suggest that although online and face-to-face focus groups exhibit distinct characteristics, they are similarly effective in yielding data of comparable quality, especially in terms of idea generation. Accordingly, combining the two formats within a single study is likely to maintain data integrity. Overall, the findings from this review offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners across diverse disciplines and should help them to strategically design their focus group studies so as to align with specific research objectives and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTo describe and analyze the methodological characteristics and quality of cross-sectional studies that have validated an ICF-CS.A systematic review was conducted to identify empirical studies published in English that validated any ICF-CS using a cross-sectional design. Databases searched included Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO. The search was conducted in November 2022 with an update in October 2023. Two independent reviewers coded studies that met the inclusion criteria and assessed their methodological quality and risk of bias using the AXIS tool. Synthesis was performed by calculating frequencies and percentages.87 articles validating 24 ICF-CSs were analyzed. Most articles showed strengths in consistency between study objectives and the outcome variables measured. However, a large majority did not report sample size calculation (up to 94.2% in Delphi studies), and few validation studies were conducted in the WHO regions of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.The quality of cross-sectional studies validating ICF-CSs was satisfactory, although several articles did not describe aspects such as sample size calculation. Validity evidence for ICF-CS studies could be improved by conducting more multicenter studies, replicating ICF-CS validation studies in different WHO regions, and through synthesis of existing research.Cross-sectional validation studies of ICF-CSs have satisfactory quality, supporting the use of the CSs in clinical rehabilitation settings similar to those evaluated here.Additional validation studies are required for ICF-CSs that have not yet been validated or for which validity evidence is limited.The methodological findings of this review constitute a roadmap that could guide the development and improve the quality of future ICF-CS validation studies.Knowing which ICF-CSs are validated through cross-sectional designs is useful for planning and designing interventions and instrument development.Cross-sectional validation studies of ICF-CSs have satisfactory quality, supporting the use of the CSs in clinical rehabilitation settings similar to those evaluated here.Additional validation studies are required for ICF-CSs that have not yet been validated or for which validity evidence is limited.The methodological findings of this review constitute a roadmap that could guide the development and improve the quality of future ICF-CS validation studies.Knowing which ICF-CSs are validated through cross-sectional designs is useful for planning and designing interventions and instrument development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the analysis of time-resolved x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra is proposed. It combines principal component analysis of the series of experimental spectra, multidimensional interpolation of theoretical XANES as a function of structural parameters, and ab initio XANES calculations. It allows to determine the values of structural parameters for intermediates of chemical reactions and the concentrations of different states as a function of time. This approach is tested using numerically generated data and its possibilities and limitations are discussed. The application of this method to a reaction with methylrhenium trioxide catalyst in solution, for which experimental data were measured using stopped-flow energy-dispersive x-ray absorption spectroscopy technique, is demonstrated. Possibilities and limitations of this experimental technique are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) offers a theoretical framework for assessing functioning and disability. The ICF Core Sets for schizophrenia are a list of ICF categories describing the most common problems in functioning of persons affected by this health condition. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the problems occupational therapists (OT) commonly encounterwhen treating individualswith schizophrenia and to validate these Core Sets fromtheir perspective. Methods: In a three-round survey using the Delphi technique, OTs experienced in the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia were asked about the patients' problems and environmental factors they considered more relevant when treating this population. Two trained health professionals linked responses to the ICF; statistical measure of agreement and kappa coefficient was calculated. Results: A total of 92 OTs from 29 countries covering the six World Health Organization regions named 2527 meaningful concepts in the first-round. After the linking process, 121 ICF categories and 31 Personal factors were presented to the expert panel. Consensus (agreement ≥ 75%) was reached for 97 ICF categories and 27 Personal factors. All the categories present in the Brief ICF Core Sets for schizophrenia and 89 of the 97 categories represented at the Comprehensive version reached consensus. Conclusions: The ICF Core Sets for schizophrenia were validated from the perspective of OTs and may offer a useful tool to be used by them at clinical practice, as cover awide variety of problems that they deal with in their interventions with persons with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Comprehensive Core Set for schizophrenia (CS-SZ) is a shortlist of ICF categories that are relevant for describing the functioning and disability of persons suffering from schizophrenia. Objectives: This study aims to assess the common aspects and the differences regarding the relevance of the CS-SZ categories among health professionals experienced in schizophrenia treatment that belong to the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions (i.e. African, The Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, European, South East Asia, and Western Pacific). Methods: In a three-round survey using the Delphi technique, 790 health professionals (i.e., psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists) from 85 countries representing all six WHO regions were asked about the problems they commonly encounter in patients with schizophrenia. Their responses were linked to ICF categories and those that reached consensus (≥ 75%) were selected. Results: A total of 138 second-level ICF categories were selected, and 79 were common across all six WHO regions: 13 Body functions, 1 Body Structures, 33 Activities and Participation, and 32 Environmental factors. Most of the ICF categories of the CS-SZ (78%) were also common across all six WHO regions. The range of concordance amongWHOregions ranged from 79.4% (e.g., Americas and Europe) to 88.7% (i.e., Africa and Eastern Mediterranean). Conclusions: A large number of problems describing functioning and disability in individuals with schizophrenia are common in all six WHO regions. Moreover, data show that ICF categories from the CS-SZ are mostly accepted across all WHO regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The relevance of persistent cognitive deficits to the pathogenesis and prognosis of bipolar disorders (BD) is understudied, and its translation into clinical practice has been limited by the absence of brief methods assessing cognitive status in Psychiatry. This investigation assessed the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP-S) for the detection of cognitive impairment in BD. Methods After short training, psychiatrists at 40 outpatient clinics administered the SCIP three times over two weeks to a total of 76 consecutive type I BD admissions. Experienced psychologists also administered a comprehensive battery of standard neuropsychological instruments to clinical sample and 45 healthy control subjects. Results Feasibility was supported by a brief administration time (approximately 15 minutes) and minimal scoring errors. The reliability of the SCIP was confirmed by good equivalence of forms, acceptable stability (ICC range 0.59 to 0.87) and adequate internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha of 0.74). Construct validity was granted by extraction of a single factor (accounting 52% of the variance), acceptable correlations with conventional neuropsychological instruments, and a clear differentiation between bipolar I and normal samples. Efficiency was also provided by the adequate sensitivity and specificity. Limitations The sample size is not very large. The SCIP and the neurocognitive battery do not cover all potentially relevant cognitive domains. Also, sensitivity to change remains unexplored. Conclusion With minimal training, physicians obtained a reliable and valid estimate of cognitive impairment in approximately 15 minutes from an application of the SCIP to type I BD patients.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and psychosis is ubiquitous and acknowledged as a core feature of clinical expression, pathophysiology, and prediction of functioning. However, assessment of cognitive functioning is excessively time-consuming in routine practice, and brief cognitive instruments specific to psychosis would be of value. Two screening tools have recently been created to address this issue, i.e., the Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool for Schizophrenia (B-CATS) and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP). The aim of this research was to examine the comparative validity of these two brief instruments in relation to a global cognitive score. 161 patients with psychosis (96 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 65 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder) and 76 healthy control subjects were tested with both instruments to examine their concurrent validity relative to a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery. Scores from the B-CATS and the SCIP were highly correlated in the three diagnostic groups, and both scales showed good to excellent concurrent validity relative to a Global Cognitive Composite Score (GCCS) derived from the more comprehensive examination. The SCIP-S showed better predictive value of global cognitive impairment than the B-CATS. Partial and semi-partial correlations showed slightly higher percentages of both shared and unique variance between the SCIP-S and the GCCS than between the B-CATS and the GCCS. Brief instruments for assessing cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, such as the SCIP-S and B-CATS, seem to be reliable and promising tools for use in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental capacity assessment plays a crucial role in decision-making, especially in psychiatric contexts, where legal frameworks for determining capacity vary widely. This study explores the relationship between cognitive functioning and decision-making capacity modification (CM) in severe mental disorders (SMD), shedding light on the importance of neuropsychological evaluation in CM processes. Cross-sectional descriptive study, with 77 adult patients with SMD and CM, and 33 without CM from the mental health sector of Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (Spain). CM, sociodemographic and neuropsychological data were collected. An independent brief assessment of patients' mental capacity was also evaluated. There is an overrepresentation of males in CM processes. All three groups exhibit mild multidomain dysfunction, with impairments in executive functions, memory, and processing speed. Individuals with CM show poorer verbal learning capacity, with an impact on their occupational and family functioning. Mnemonic encoding positively correlates with mental capacity to decide, suggesting it could preliminarily be considered a potential predictive marker in CM processes. This study contributes insights into the cognitive aspects of CM in SMD, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach integrating clinical, cognitive, and social factors in assessing decision-making capacity in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In 2013, Spain aligned its capacity modification processes (CM) legislation with the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, specifically for individuals with severe mental disorders (SMD). The reforms replaced incapacity verdicts with support provision and introduced the term "CM". However, the social impact of these changes remains uncertain. The RECAPACITA project was initiated to generate knowledge on SMD and CM, and this study aims to investigate modifications in CM sentences and associated terminology. Using a qualitative-quantitative methodology, content analysis was conducted on 56 sentences from individuals with SMD. Terminology analysis utilized 19 sentences to achieve information saturation. A comparison was made between sentences prior to 2013 and those spanning 2014 to 2023, analyzing the data through ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (significance level: 0.05). The analysis revealed that psychiatric illness, its evolution, lack of self-governance, and economic management were frequently mentioned aspects in the sentences. However, no significant correlations were found. Qualitatively, mentions of self-governance were more prevalent in sentences before 2013. Conversely, after 2013, there was an increased focus on substances use, lack of insight and medical adherence, and the need for support in daily life. The term "incapable person" appeared in 100% of the sentences, indicating no differences in terminology. The study suggests that current CM sentences provide increasingly individualized information, addressing the specific support needs of individuals. To enhance future legal proceedings, incorporating neuroscience in studying SMD individuals and reconsidering terminology based on Convention guidelines is recommended., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: University students report high levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can lead to severe mental health problems. Understanding how ACEs impact well-being in this population is essential, yet research to date is limited., Objective: To explore ACE patterns and their association with lower well-being in university students., Participants and Setting: 1023 Spanish students (71.6 % female) aged between 18 and 64 years old (M = 20.10, SD = 3.93) completed a self-report questionnaire., Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale were used to assess, respectively, childhood adversities and mental well-being. Latent Class Analysis and regression modeling were conducted to analyze the link between ACEs and lower mental well-being, considering the covariates of age, country of origin, sexual orientation, and mental illness., Results: Four ACE classes were identified: Low ACEs (49.5 %), Dysfunctional Household (12.3 %), Household and Peer Abuse (31.0 %), and High ACEs (7.2 %). The regression analysis (F(3, 1007) = 19.2, p < .001, R 2 adj  = 0.054) successfully predicted well-being scores based on ACE classes. When compared with the Low ACE class, all other classes exhibited lower levels of well-being. Age, sexual orientation, and mental illness were also related to lower well-being, with mental illness having the strongest negative effect (β = -0.635, t(1015) = -6.49, p < .001)., Conclusions: These findings underscore the relationship between childhood adversity and mental health, offering insights for future prevention efforts and enriching our understanding of ACEs and their impact on well-being., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) () is a scale used to assess both the stage of recovery (SISR-A) and the components of the process of personal recovery (SISR-B). This study aimed to develop the Spanish version of the SISR and obtain evidence of validity and reliability in a sample of 230 users of community mental health services., Method: The Spanish version of the SISR was developed following the translation-back translation procedure, with the support of a committee of experienced experts. The SISR was examined in terms of dimensional structure, internal consistency, relationships with other variables (i.e., the Maryland Recovery Assessment Scale [MARS-12] and the Dispositional Hope Scale [DHS]), and temporal stability (n = 66). Differential item functioning (DIF) by gender was analysed., Results: The study confirmed the unidimensionality of the SISR-B and suitable internal consistency of its scores (ω = .83, α = .83). Scores from both SISR-A and SISR-B showed good temporal stability and the SISR-B displayed strong correlations with the MARS-12 (rs = .78) and the DHS (rs = .67). No DIF was found., Conclusions: This study supports the validity and reliability of the scores of the Spanish version of the SISR.

The Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) is a 13-item personality measure capturing how people differ in their capacity to exert self-control. Although the BSCS was originally regarded as a one-dimensional scale, subsequent psychometric studies have provided support for the empirical distinction of two and four interrelated but distinct components of self-control. Using a large sample of Spanish adults (n = 1,558; 914 female, 58.7%), we performed a comprehensive data-driven comparison of the most well-established item-level latent structures for the BSCS. Results showed that the differentiation between general self-discipline and impulse control offered a better fit to the observed data than did the unidimensional representation of self-control. This two-dimensional structure for the BSCS scores was also supported in terms of its internal consistency, measurement invariance across gender and age groups, and meaningful correlations with wellbeing-related indicators and Big Five personality traits. Plausible implications of these findings are discussed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Torres-Marín et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The objective of the current study was to adapt and validate the pure procrastination scale (PPS) for the Spanish adult population. Procrastination can have numerous consequences in daily life, making it essential to have reliable and valid instruments for measuring procrastination. Thus, this study was conducted to address this need. The sample consisted of 596 adults aged 18-83 years (M = 35.25, SD = 13.75). In addition to the PPS, participants completed two procrastination measures, namely the irrational procrastination scale and the decisional procrastination questionnaire, alongside the Big Five inventory and the satisfaction with life scale. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure of the PPS. The examination of the reliability of scores in terms of internal consistency and temporal stability showed satisfactory results for the PPS scores. Moreover, gender invariance was observed at the scalar level. Finally, the PPS scores correlated with other measures of procrastination, personality traits, and satisfaction with life in the expected direction and magnitude. In conclusion, the Spanish PPS offers valid and reliable scores when administered to adult population., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guilera, López-Martínez, Barrios, Hidalgo, Steel and Gómez-Benito.)

Background: This study developed the Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS), a brief version of the Shortened Math Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS), maintaining its original three-factor structure, by applying item response theory., Method: The sMARS was administered to 1,349 undergraduates, along with other questionnaires to measure their math ability, trait and test anxieties, and attitudes toward mathematics., Results: Results showed that the original scale could be reduced to nine items (three for each subscale). We provided evidence of good psychometric properties: strong internal consistency, adequate 7-week test-retest reliability, and good convergent/discriminant validity., Conclusions: In conclusion, the BMAS provides valid interpretations and reliable scores for assessing math anxiety in university students, and is especially useful in situations with time constraints where the longer form is impractical.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the content of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) with that of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and to examine the extent to which PANSS items are represented in the ICF Core Sets (ICF-CS) for schizophrenia., Methods: The 30 items of the PANSS were linked to the ICF using established rules by two health professionals experienced in applying the ICF conceptual framework., Results: PANSS items were linked to 42 unique ICF categories, corresponding mainly to the Body functions component; categories b160 Thought functions and b152 Emotional functions from this component were the most frequently linked. Regarding the Activities and participation component, the second-level category d720 Complex interpersonal interactions was the most frequently linked to PANSS items. Overall, PANSS items covered 18% and 40% of the categories included, respectively, in the Comprehensive and Brief versions of the ICF-CSs for schizophrenia. No PANSS items were linked to categories from the Body structures or Environmental factors components., Conclusions: The PANSS broadly covers the content of the ICF, especially as regards mental and movement-related functions, although it also covers some aspects of interpersonal relationships.

Objective: To describe the extension of the adverse experiences, including victimization, lived in childhood and adulthood in a sample of people with severe mental illness residing in Barcelona, Spain., Method: Descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional study. Adverse and victimization experiences were assessed using 26 items from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Items were included obtain information regarding victimization during adulthood. Seventy-four people with severe mental illness were interviewed (median age: 42.03 years; standard deviation: 9.60)., Results: All participants reported at least two victimization experiences throughout their lifetime. The most frequent experiences were conventional crimes (87.8%) and victimization by caregivers (86.5%). Before age 18, half of the participants reported having experienced physical violence by their caregivers (52.7%) and almost one out of three reported to have been victim of sexual abuse (32.4%). Women were almost 13 times more likely to experience sexual victimization than men throughout their lifetime (odds ratio: 12.75; 95% confidence interval: 4.19-38.71)., Conclusions: Victimization experienced by people with severe mental illness is a widespread problem that has received little attention. The results of this study are consistent with those obtained in previous investigations and underscore the need to translate this knowledge into medical practice into medical practice, considering them in order to develop treatments with a comprehensive approach to mental health., (Copyright © 2023 SESPAS. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Severe mental disorder (SMD) includes people with long-term mental disorders, disability and social dysfunction. The mental capacity evaluation of the people has been a key aspect in legislative systems around the world and different proposals have been made. In countries like Spain, until 2021, the mental capacity of individuals was assessed by means of legal proceedings. In the last years, there has been a notable increase in the number of claims for legal incapacity, but no data are available on the total number of persons with CM, neither on the specific pathologies, or clinical and cognitive profiles. In view of the total absence of data on the profile of people with SMD and modification of capacity, the RECAPACITA study was born. This study includes patients with SMD and CM, as well as those without CM, with the aim to describe exhaustively their clinical, neuropsychological and functional profile of people with SMD and CM, as well as obtaining a basic description of the social environment., Objectives: To describe CM in SMD, to identify clinical diagnoses, clinical severity and neuropsychological deterioration., Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. 77 adult patients with SMD and CM, inpatients from the mental health sector of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (Spain), outpatients linked to the community rehabilitation services (CRS), and penitentiary inmates. CM, sociodemographic, clinical, functional and neuropsychological data are collected., Results: In the sample, 59.5% present total CM. 74.7% are men (mean: 52.5 years). 87,0% have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The estimated premorbid IQ is 91.4. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) had a mean of 50.5, the "Clinical Global Impression Scale" (CGI) was 4.6 and Scale Unawareness of Mental Disorders (SUMD) was 9.28. The cognitive results shows a profile with slow proceeding speed (mean scale score: 6.6), good working memory (mean SC: 8.3) and adequate verbal comprehension (mean SC: 7.3). In memory, coding is altered (Pz: -1.9), and long-term spontaneous recall (Pz: -2.3). In abstract reasoning, a slight alteration is obtained (Mean SC: 6), as well as in semantic fluency (Mean SC: 6.3), phonological (Mean SC: 5.9), and inhibitory capacity (Mean SC: 5.7)., Conclusions: Most of the sample are men with schizophrenia, with a total MC assumed by a tutelary foundation. They show a moderate alteration in global functioning and clinical global impression, with partial awareness of the disease. They present dysexecutive mild cognitive impairment, with poor memory coding and free retrieval capacity, and a normal IQ, adequate verbal comprehension and working memory. This study is the first to present objective data on the psychiatric, functional and cognitive status of a group of patients with CM. Such research could be a good starting point to address a topic of great interest from the health, social and legal point of view of the CM processes of people with SMD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Many countries today are undergoing a paradigm shift in mental health policies towards a recovery-oriented and rights-based approach. From this perspective, self-determination and self-management are fundamental factors for recovery. Despite this shift, there is still a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of training programmes aimed at promoting self-determination and self-management in recovery processes implemented in southern European or Spanish-speaking countries. The aim of this paper is to present a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-session recovery workshop implemented in community mental health services in Catalonia (Spain)., Methods/design: This is a 12-week follow-up multi-centre non-randomized controlled trial design. At least 160 users will be recruited from 13 Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS) in Catalonia. Eligible participants are adult (≥ 18 years old) users of a CRS, who sign a written consent to participate. The experimental group participates in a recovery workshop, in which people learn to develop and implement their own plan of personal recovery, which includes a Wellness Toolbox, a Maintenance Toolkit, a Personal Growth Plan, a Mirror of Relapses, a Crisis Plan, and a Learning Agenda. The control group participates in the usual activities of the CRS. Data is collected using a questionnaire of sociodemographic characteristics, personal recovery, empowerment, hope and perceived social support. The users' measurements are taken at the baseline and one week after the end of the workshop. The primary outcome measures include the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery and the Maryland Assessment of Recovery in Serious Mental Illness Scale (short version). The secondary outcome measures include the Netherlands Empowerment List, Dispositional Hope Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics for characterizing the sample size will be performed. Multivariate analyses for repeated measures designs will be used to evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes. Between-group and within-subject comparisons will be conducted., Discussion: The results of the study will provide information on the usefulness of recovery workshops in a Mediterranean cultural context. Additionally, if this workshop is effective, it will be proposed for inclusion within the portfolio of community mental health services in Catalonia., Trial Registration: ISRCTN11695542 (Registration date: 5 July 2022)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Identifying disability score differences in people with schizophrenia according to sociodemographic and clinical variables can help design better rehabilitation or care programs, but in order to compare the scores, it is necessary to confirm the measurement invariance. This study analyses differential item functioning (DIF) in the WHODAS 2.0 (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule) by applying two procedures based on Rasch trees (TREE-PCM and PCM-IFT). A total of 352 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder aged between 18 and 55 years took part. Sociodemographic (gender, age, marital status, and education) and clinical (depressive symptomatology, and presence of positive and negative symptoms) covariates were analysed in each of the WHODAS 2.0 domains. The TREE-PCM did not detect DIF, while with PCM-IFT an item with DIF was detected for the age variable. Although the findings suggest that only one item presents DIF, this refers to important issues when assessing functioning in patients with schizophrenia and should be reviewed.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures, mainly physical distancing and isolation, are having detrimental consequences on the mental health of the juvenile infant population worldwide.