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. 2010 Feb;12(1):45-55.
doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00787.x.

Relationship of the Brief UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) to multiple indicators of functioning in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Brent T Mausbach  1 , Philip D Harvey, Ann E Pulver, Colin A Depp, Paula S Wolyniec, Mary H Thornquist, James R Luke, John A McGrath, Christopher R Bowie, Thomas L Patterson
Affiliations

Relationship of the Brief UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) to multiple indicators of functioning in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Brent T Mausbach et al. Bipolar Disord. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between multiple indicators of 'real-world' functioning and scores on a brief performance-based measure of functional capacity known as the Brief University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) in a sample of 205 patients with either serious bipolar disorder (n = 89) or schizophrenia (n = 116).

Methods: Participants were administered the UPSA-B and assessed on the following functional domains: (i) independent living status (e.g., residing independently as head of household, living in residential care facility); (ii) informant reports of functioning (e.g., work skills, daily living skills); (iii) educational attainment and estimated premorbid IQ as measured by years of education and Wide Range Achievement Test reading scores, respectively; and (iv) employment.

Results: Better scores on the UPSA-B were associated with greater residential independence after controlling for age, diagnosis, and symptoms of psychopathology. Among both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients, higher UPSA-B scores were significantly related to better informant reports of functioning in daily living skills and work skills domains. Greater estimated premorbid IQ was associated with higher scores on the UPSA-B for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder participants. Participants who were employed scored higher on the UPSA-B when controlling for age and diagnosis, but not when controlling for symptoms of psychopathology.

Conclusions: These data suggest the UPSA-B may be useful for assessing capacity for functioning in a number of domains in both people diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

PDH has received grant support from AstraZeneca, and in the past year, he has served as a consultant for Eli Lilly & Co., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Shire Pharma, and Dainippon Sumitomo America. BTM, AEP, CAD, PSW, MHT, JRL, JAM, CB and TLP have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Correlations between Brief University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) scores and Specific Level of Functioning (SLOF) Activities (Panel A) and Work (Panel B) subscales by diagnostic group (bipolar versus schizophrenia).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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