Assessing the elements of biopsychosocial functioning.

New findings are reported on the validity and reliability of an equation designed to predict the functional level of psychiatric patients. The equation employs measures of aggravating stress, biomedical impairment, coping skills, directive power, and environmental supports to predict level of functioning. A study of 95 subjects (38 patients and 57 nonpatients) found that the equation was able to discriminate significantly between psychiatric patients and persons with no history of psychiatric treatment and between the condition of long-term patients at different stages in treatment. The authors review findings from other studies that show the usefulness of the functional level equation in comparing patient groups, predicting prognosis and amount of treatment needed, improving functioning, and preventing disorder.