Validation of the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA) in Hispanics with and without schizophrenia

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 244; pp. 388 - 393
• Main Authors: Mausbach, Brent T., Tiznado, Denisse, Cardenas, Veronica, Jeste, Dilip V., Patterson, Thomas L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.10.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - ethnology; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Female; Functional Capacity; Functioning; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Humans; Independent; Latino; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests - standards; Norms; Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenia - ethnology; Schizophrenic Psychology; Social Adjustment; Spanish; Norms; Independent; Spanish; Functional Capacity; Latino; Functioning
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.027

The UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA) is a widely used measure of functional capacity with strong reliability and validity. However there is a lack of psychometric data on Hispanics. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of acculturation and education on UPSA performance among 62 Hispanic participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 46 healthy comparison subjects. Functional capacity was measured using the UPSA. Acculturation was measured using the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans (ARSMA). Independent t-tests indicated that participants with schizophrenia had significantly lower UPSA total scores and scored lower on all UPSA sub-scales relative to the comparison group. Multiple regression also indicated that education and acculturation were significant predictors of UPSA total scores. These data provide a better understanding of UPSA scores in Hispanics with and without schizophrenia, and suggest that education and acculturation adjustments may be required to improve interpretation of test results. •Hispanics scored significantly lower on the UPSA relative to non-Hispanics.•Applying weights for education and acculturation wiped out ethnic differences in UPSA scores.•Researchers and clinicians should correct for education and acculturation when interpreting UPSA scores.