Development of empirically derived brief program evaluation measures in Pennsylvania first-episode psychosis coordinated specialty care programs

Aim: The Pennsylvania first episode psychosis program evaluation (PA-FEP-PE) core assessment battery was developed as a standard and comprehensive clinical assessment and data collection tool in Pennsylvania coordinated specialty care programs (CSC). To reduce administrative time and maximize clinical utility by maintaining acceptable levels of precision, we aimed to generate a short form using item response theory (IRT)-based computer-adaptive test (CAT) simulation and analyse the implementation and acceptability of the short form among providers from PA-CSC. Methods: FEP participants (n = 759; age 14–36) from nine coordinated specialty care programs completed 156 items drawn from the PA-FEP-PE battery. Multidimensional IRT-based CAT simulations were used to select the best PA-FEP-PE items for abbreviated forms. Results: A 67-item PA-FEP-PE short form was developed to capture six factors: (1) positive affect and surgency (with negative loadings on Anxious-Misery items); (2) psychiatric services satisfaction; (3) antipsychotic side effect severity; (4) family turmoil and associated traumas; (5) trauma load; and (6) psychosis. The total number of items was reduced more than 50% in the PA-FEP-PE shortened forms. The short form demonstrated good psychometric properties, and it was well accepted by our providers in the implementation. Conclusions: The empirical derivation and implementation of abbreviated measures of key domains and constructs in FEP care have streamlined and facilitated PA-FEP program evaluation. Our work supports potential application of IRT based methods to empirically reduce core assessment battery measures in large-scale data collection efforts such as in the Early Psychosis Intervention Network.