Routine mental health outcome measurement in the UK

Abstract

This paper offers a short history of routine clinical outcomes measurement (RCOM) in UK mental health services. RCOM developments in primary and secondary care are described, with reference to measures currently in widespread use or likely to be implemented. Assessment procedure and completion rates are discussed. Some of the forces operating in this field are enumerated. Comparison is made with UK attempts at routine outcomes measurement in public education. This field is thus reviewed for lessons for RCOM, and opportunities and challenges considered.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Elaine Murphy for guidance on RCOM in the 19th century.

Declaration of interest: Alastair Macdonald is a member of NHS England's Quality and Outcomes Group for Mental Health Currency Development. He is a co-founder of UKRCOM; views of some of its members are represented in this paper. He holds the copyright for HoNOS65+. He is supported by the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust implementing HoNOS and CORE-OM but has no other affiliations or relevant remuneration. Andy Fugard previously worked for the Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC) and helped develop the outcomes evaluation framework for the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) programme. He has no other affiliations or relevant remuneration. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.