Background: This article presents a study of the Occupational Abilities and Performance Scale (OAPS), developed for administration to schizophrenic patients. The reliability and validity of the OAPS has been evaluated.
Method: A total of 174 schizophrenic patients who participated in the Psychosocial and Vocational Rehabilitation Unit (PVRU) of the University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI) in Athens were assessed. The OAPS is conducted at entry and after 18 months, when the client has completed training.
Results: The results of the reliability analysis showed very good internal consistency, with high split-half reliability as well as test-retest reliability and inter-rater agreement. The scale was also found to have good predictive validity, as well as concurrent validity. Finally, factor analysis with principal components extraction method was performed in order to assess the construct validity of the scale.
Conclusions: The results of factor analysis supported the conclusion of good reliability and validity of the OAPS and revealed the existence of five components, each correlated with a set of the original items.