ROM in anxiety disorders: Diagnosis-specific and generic assessment instruments

Abstract

This study examined the sensitivity of the assessment of treatment progress and outcome in anxiety disorders through diagnosis-specific versus generic routine outcome monitoring (ROM) instruments. Adults (N = 160) diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder with (PDA) or without agoraphobia (PD), or social anxiety disorder (SAD) received outpatient treatment at the Altrecht Academic Anxiety Centre. Each patients’ treatment outcome was assessed through two generic assessment instruments and two diagnosis-specific assessment instruments. The results show a subtle pattern, such that the differences between pre- and post-treatment assessments appeared to be larger for diagnosis-specific assessment instruments and the generic Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) than for the generic Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45). Implications for the current findings are discussed.