Routine outcome assessment in mental health research

Routine outcome assessment is a major tool for outcome management. It has broadened the field of evaluation and its traditional methods, giving rise to a new set of instruments, such as the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales. However, most challenges posed by routine outcome assessment have yet to be resolved, including conceptual issues, instrument selection and standardization, and appropriate data analysis. Because of its significant contributions to improving quality of care, management planning and decision making, routine outcome assessment is sure to become a widely discussed psychiatric topic in the near future.