Exploring the treatment process correlates of the Spectra: Indices of Psychopathology's Psychosocial Functioning scale in a clinical sample

Assessing adaptive psychosocial functioning is vital in psychological evaluation and treatment. The Psychosocial Functioning (PF) scale from the Spectra: Indices of Psychopathology captures key areas such as well-being, agency, social support, and access to basic needs. While initial research supports its use, its role in guiding complex treatment decisions remains underexplored. This study examined associations between the PF scale and treatment indicators from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in a mixed sample (N = 89) of psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Findings revealed meaningful correlations between the PF scale and PAI indicators of suicide and violence risk, stress, support, treatment motivation, and care needs. Hierarchical regressions showed the PAI Level of Care Index and Non-Support Scale were most strongly associated to the PF scale. Results suggest assessing psychosocial functioning can inform clinical decisions and improve treatment outcomes. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.