Cognitive disabilities have been found to have a detrimental effect on the psychiatric patients' ability to perform routine functional tasks. Unfortunately, valid and reliable evaluation tools of cognitive function for the population are as yet nonexistent in Taiwan. In order to address the need, the author designed the Basic Cognitive Function Scale (BCFS). The scale is composed of three basic cognitive components of theoretical relevance; i.e.orientation, conceptualization/comprehension, and cognitive integration. Three subtests constitute the full scale: the basic subtest, the mosaic subtest, and the make-a-box subtest. The present study attemped to evaluate the reliability and validity of the BCFS. Twenty chronic psychiatric inpatients, ranging from 20 to 48 years in age, were included in the study. The test-retest reliability of the BCFS was established with a test interval of three weeks (r=0.97, p<0.0l). High correlations between the BCFS and three scales/indicators used to evaluate the ability to perform daily routine tasks were found (r=0.61~0.86, p<0.01). The results provided preliminary evidence of the concurrent validity of the BCFS.
Cognitive disabilities have been found to have a detrimental effect on the psychiatric patients' ability to perform routine functional tasks. Unfortunately, valid and reliable evaluation tools of cognitive function for the population are as yet nonexistent in Taiwan. In order to address the need, the author designed the Basic Cognitive Function Scale (BCFS). The scale is composed of three basic cognitive components of theoretical relevance; i.e.orientation, conceptualization/comprehension, and cognitive integration. Three subtests constitute the full scale: the basic subtest, the mosaic subtest, and the make-a-box subtest. The present study attemped to evaluate the reliability and validity of the BCFS. Twenty chronic psychiatric inpatients, ranging from 20 to 48 years in age, were included in the study. The test-retest reliability of the BCFS was established with a test interval of three weeks (r=0.97, p<0.0l). High correlations between the BCFS and three scales/indicators used to evaluate the ability to perform daily routine tasks were found (r=0.61~0.86, p<0.01). The results provided preliminary evidence of the concurrent validity of the BCFS.