The Social Functioning Scale the Development and Validation of a New Scale of Social Adjustment for use in Family Intervention Programmes with Schizophrenic Patients

Birchwood, Max; Smith, Jo; Cochrane, Ray; Wetton, Sheila; Copestake, Sonja

doi:10.1192/bjp.157.6.853

Cited by 1,157Schizophrenia research and treatmentFamily Caregiving in Mental IllnessCounseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics

The Social Functioning Scale the Development and Validation of a New Scale of Social Adjustment for use in Family Intervention Programmes with Schizophrenic Patients

Birchwood, Max, Smith, Jo, Cochrane, Ray, Wetton, Sheila, Copestake, Sonja·1990·British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI 10.1192/bjp.157.6.853

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Abstract

Social functioning as an outcome variable in family interventions with schizophrenic patients has been a relatively neglected area. The requirements of a scale of social functioning to measure the efficacy of family interventions include: the measurement of skill/behaviour relevant to the impairments and the demography of this group; the ability to yield considerable information with an economy of clinical time; and the establishment of 'comparative' need through comparison between subscales and with appropriate reference groups. Results from three samples show that the Social Functioning Scale is reliable, valid, sensitive and responsive to change.

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The SFS is a more comprehensive measure of social functioning than the GAF.
“the SFS assesses social functioning across a number of domains including social engagement/withdrawal, interpersonal, prosocial, recreation, independence–competence/performance and employment as rated by the individual themselves, thereby rendering this scale a more comprehensive measure of social functioning (Birchwood et al. 1990).”
From Social Functioning Interventions in Psychosis: A Systematic Review. (2025) · cites this paper as Birchwood et al. 1990

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Authors: Birchwood, M., Smith, J., Cochrane, R., Wetton, S., & Copestake, S.
Affiliations: All Saints Hospital (ZA)
University of Birmingham (GB)
Corresponding author: Birchwood, Max
ORCID: Birchwood, Max
Smith, Jo
Venue: British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published: 1990-12
Volume: 157
Issue: 6
Pages: 853-859
ISSN: 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
1472-1465
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.157.6.853
OpenAlex: W1978508380
Cited by: 1,157
References: 3
Citations by year: 2026: 33 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 80 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 51
FWCI: 4.94
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 9894 d)
Locations: The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Worcester Research and Publications (University of Worcester) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
Keywords: Social Functioning Scale, social functioning, social adaptation, schizophrenia, family intervention, scale development, psychometric validation, outcome measures, family therapy, scale reliability
MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Family Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Personality Tests, Psychometrics, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Social Adjustment, Social Behavior, Social Environment

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The Social Functioning Scale the Development and Validation of a New Scale of Social Adjustment for use in Family Intervention Programmes with Schizophrenic Patients

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