The Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning9 was used to make global ratings of participants' level of functioning over the past four weeks. The Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning focuses on role performance in the home, at work (broadly defined to include employment, childcare and caring) and in study. Its subscales rate: level of role responsibility; degree of support; quality of performance for the level of responsibility and degree of support ('tolerated' or supported performance); and global functioning, correcting for support and performance. The latter provides a score of independent functioning relative to community norms.
Appendix Table 6-1. Premorbid functioning
| Males Proportion (%) | Females Proportion (%) | Age 18-34 years Proportion (%) | Age 35-64 years Proportion (%) | Persons Proportion (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed* or studying at onset | 69.5 | 72.8 | 70.0 | 71.4 | 70.8 | ||
| Good work* adjustment before onset | 66.1 | 72.5 | 62.6 | 73.2 | 68.7 | ||
| Good social adjustment before onset | 63.1 | 65.2 | 64.4 | 63.6 | 63.9 | ||
*Broadly defined to include paid and unpaid work and full-time home duties
Appendix Table 6-2. Level of impairment
| Males Proportion (%) | Females Proportion (%) | Age 18-34 years Proportion (%) | Age 35-64 years Proportion (%) | Persons Proportion (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deterioration from pre-onset level of functioning | 92.1 | 87.9 | 87.5 | 92.6 | 90.4 | |||
| Obvious/severe dysfunction in socialising, past year | 64.8 | 61.0 | 59.0 | 66.3 | 63.2 | |||
| Obvious/severe dysfunction in self care, past 4 weeks | 35.9 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 36.1 | 32.3 | |||
Appendix Table 6-3. Global supported performance9 in past 4 weeks
| Age of onset (years) | Males Proportion (%) | Females Proportion (%) | Age 18-34 years Proportion (%) | Age 35-64 years Proportion (%) | Persons Proportion (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No deficits | 18.4 | 22.5 | 21.2 | 19.2 | 20.1 | |
| Minimal deficits | 27.3 | 27.2 | 27.7 | 27.0 | 27.3 | |
| Modest but definite deficits | 29.7 | 30.4 | 29.0 | 30.7 | 30.0 | |
| Moderate deficits | 12.5 | 11.8 | 11.5 | 12.7 | 12.2 | |
| Significant deficits | 6.3 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 5.8 | |
| Severe deficits | 2.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.4 | |
| Extremely severe deficits | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.4 | |
| Total respondents | 1,087 | 738 | 773 | 1,052 | 1,825 | |
No or minimal deficits: normal performance or performance with only mild deficits.
Modest but definite deficits: clear deficits but performance is still minimally acceptable.
Moderate deficits: clear deficits but performance is no longer acceptable.
Significant deficits: severe deficits with responsibilities completed poorly and with difficulty.
Severe deficits: deficits so severe that responsibilities are rarely completed or of unacceptable quality.
Extremely severe deficits: responsibilities are completely neglected.
Appendix Table 6-4. Global independent functioning9 in past 4 weeks
| Age of onset (years) | Males Proportion (%) | Females Proportion (%) | Age 18-34 years Proportion (%) | Age 35-64 years Proportion (%) | Persons Proportion (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 4.4 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 4.6 | 5.8 | |
| Very mild disability | 14.3 | 24.1 | 18.9 | 17.8 | 18.2 | |
| Somewhat disabled | 23.5 | 29.1 | 25.0 | 26.3 | 25.8 | |
| Moderately disabled | 30.6 | 22.9 | 25.7 | 28.8 | 27.5 | |
| Significantly disabled | 19.5 | 12.7 | 17.6 | 16.2 | 16.8 | |
| Extremely disabled | 6.8 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 4.8 | |
| Totally disabled | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 | |
| Total respondents | 1,087 | 738 | 773 | 1,052 | 1,825 | |
Very mild disability: functioning at the low end of the normal range but with no or minimal support.
Somewhat disabled: functioning adequately with some support or with some difficulty but no support.
Moderately disabled: functioning with significant difficulty with no supports or with some difficulty in spite of regular supports in mainstream environment.
Significantly disabled: generally unable to function at all without supports, functioning with significant difficulty even with significant supports in mainstream environment and with some difficulty in non mainstream environment.
Extremely disabled: generally not able to function in mainstream environments even with supports, functioning with significant difficulty in non mainstream environment ,functioning well and showing some independent functioning in comprehensive care environment (e.g. hospital).
Totally disabled: virtually total care provided in institutional environment with no independent functioning.
Appendix Table 6-5. Personal and Social Performance Scale10 in past year
| Age of onset (years) | Males Proportion (%) | Females Proportion (%) | Age 18-34 years Proportion (%) | Age 35-64 years Proportion (%) | Persons Proportion (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absence of disability or only mild difficulties | 13.7 | 23.6 | 19.3 | 16.5 | 17.7 | |||
| Varying degrees of disability | 80.7 | 72.5 | 75.8 | 78.5 | 77.4 | |||
| Poor functioning sufficient to require intensive support and supervision | 5.6 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | |||
| Total respondents | 1,087 | 738 | 773 | 1,052 | 1,825 | |||