The Client Assessment of Strengths , Interests and Goals ( CASIG ) had the strongest psychometric evidence .
The SAW and CASIG assessment s can be tentatively recommended within clinical practice , although the evidence for all strengths assessment s is currently limited .
These categories form the basis of an empirically based definition of strengths that could be used as a conceptual foundation for new clinical assessment
Strengths assessment s focus on the individual 's talents , abilities , re sources , and strengths .
No systematic review of strengths assessment s for use within mental health population s has been published .
The aims of this study were to describe and evaluate strengths assessment s  for use within mental health services .
Use of standardised outcome measures in adult mental health services: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Routine use of st and ardised outcome measures is not universal . AIMS To evaluate the effectiveness of st and ardised outcome assessment . METHOD A r and omised controlled trial , involving 160 representative adult mental health patients and paired staff ( IS RCT N16971059 ) . The intervention group ( n=101 ) ( a ) completed monthly postal question naires assessing needs , quality of life , mental health problem severity and therapeutic alliance , and ( b ) received 3-monthly feedback . The control group ( n=59 ) received treatment as usual . RESULTS The intervention did not improve primary outcomes of patient-rated unmet need and of quality of life . Other subjective secondary outcome measures were also not improved . The intervention reduced psychiatric inpatient days ( 3.5 v.16.4 mean days , bootstrapped 95 % CI1.6 - 25.7 ) , and hence service use costs were 2586 UK pounds ( 95 % CI 102 - 5391 ) less for intervention-group patients . Net benefit analysis indicated that the intervention was cost-effective . CONCLUSIONS Routine use of outcome measures as implemented in this study did not improve subjective outcomes , but was associated with reduced psychiatric inpatient admissions
The Client Assessment of Strengths , Interests and Goals ( CASIG ) had the strongest psychometric evidence .
The SAW and CASIG assessment s can be tentatively recommended within clinical practice , although the evidence for all strengths assessment s is currently limited .
These categories form the basis of an empirically based definition of strengths that could be used as a conceptual foundation for new clinical assessment
Strengths assessment s focus on the individual 's talents , abilities , re sources , and strengths .
No systematic review of strengths assessment s for use within mental health population s has been published .
The aims of this study were to describe and evaluate strengths assessment s  for use within mental health services .