Questionnaire Description

The Psychiatric Evaluation Form (PEF) belongs to the category of questionnaires that assess the dimensions of psychopathology without providing the possibility of a clinical diagnosis. It consists of 19 dimensions that include anxiety, depression, non-somatic weakness, non-disorientation, social withdrawal, hallucinations, psychomotor retardation, thought disorder–suspiciousness, and other dimensions related to psychopathology and social functioning. Each dimension may refer to functional roles such as mother, father, student, housekeeper, or worker, while the assessments are based on the past 30 days. The development sample of the tool included 82 individuals without mental disorder and 156 psychiatric cases with a preliminary diagnosis by a psychiatrist.

Data Analysis and Use

The PEF is used to assess the severity of symptoms across multiple dimensions, facilitating both research and clinical evaluation. It can be applied to the general population to assess psychopathological characteristics or to psychiatric samples to monitor the course and treatment response. The resulting information can be utilized in statistical analyses, research projects, or comparative studies.

Objective

The objective is to develop a reliable and valid measurement tool that covers a wide range of psychopathological dimensions and allows the comparison of severity between different groups and time points.

Calibration

Each dimension of the PEF is rated on a scale from 1 to 6. The validity of the total severity score shows a sensitivity of 0.89 and a specificity of 0.96. The reliability check of the 19 dimensions in terms of internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielded high values in two successive measurements, confirming the reliability of the tool.

Bibliography

Tomaras, V. Clinical and diagnostic identification of cases of psychopathology in the general population. Doctoral dissertation, Medical School, University of Athens.