The Katz Adjustment Scales have been used for decades to measure community adjustment following psychiatric treatment. The scales were originally available in two forms: Self-Report and Relative Report. Over time, the Relative Report Form--the KAS-R--has proven more useful in both clinical and research settings.

    Now the Relative Report Form has been revised for even greater clinical utility. For the first time, it has a complete manual that provides metanorms, psychometric data, administration and scoring instructions, and interpretive guidance. In addition, the KAS-R now offers a Short Form, a Computer Report, and stable Index Scores.

    Typically, the KAS-R is used to determine whether a psychiatric patient needs follow-up rehabilitation services, and if so, how those services should be targeted. It has a wide range of applications in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practice--wherever psychopathology, social performance, and personal or social adjustment must be assessed. The scales have been used in cross-cultural studies of schizophrenia, in clinical drug trials, and in assessing the social adjustment of medical patients and individuals with neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and brain trauma. Because emotional and community adjustment factors directly affect rehabilitation outcomes, use of the KAS-R continues to grow.

    Composed of three parts, the KAS-R generates the following scores:

    The Index scores produce a more stable picture of the patient than the original cluster scores alone could provide. Scores on Parts II and III, which indicate how the patient's behavior differs from expectations, help determine the likelihood of rehospitalization.

    A family member or significant other can complete the KAS-R in 35 to 45 minutes. Items are written at a fifth-grade reading level. For respondents who have difficulty reading, the KAS-R can be administered as an interview, using the Response Card provided. The scales can then be hand or computer scored. Metanorms are based on the responses of nearly 2,000 individuals who rated adult family members.

    When time is a consideration, the Short Form can be used. Composed of the first 48 items, it requires just 10 to 15 minutes and generates scores for Stability, General Psychopathology, Social Aggression Index, Emotionality Index, Disorientation/Withdrawal Index, and Severe Psychopathology Index.

    Because there are few options for obtaining reliable patient adjustment ratings from significant others, the KAS-R is a uniquely useful tool for mental health providers. It is an ideal way to determine what kind of follow-up services a patient may need.