The EQ-5D and SF-36 achieved mixed results in the quantitative testing against psychometric criteria .
The qualitative analysis suggests this is because they provide a very limited coverage of themes identified by people with mental health problems .
BACKGROUND Generic preference-based measures of health like the EQ-5D and SF-6D ( ® ) are increasingly being used in economic evaluation and outcome assessment .
However , there are concerns as to whether or not these generic measures are appropriate for use in people with mental health problems .
OBJECTIVES The EQ-5D and SF-36 ( ® ) ( including its derivatives the SF-12 ( ® ) and SF-6D ) were assessed using the psychometric criteria of validity and responsiveness using quantitative and qualitative methods .
Another aim was to estimate mapping functions between the EQ-5D and SF-6D and condition-specific measures , where appropriate .
Comparison of EQ-5D and SF-6D utilities in mental health patients.
Various  preference-based measures of health are available for use as an outcome measure in cost-utility analysis . The aim of this study is to compare two such measures EQ-5D and SF-6D in mental health patients . Baseline data from a Dutch multi-centre r and omised trial of 616 patients with mood and /or anxiety disorders were used . Mean and median  EQ-5D  and  SF-6D utilities were compared , both in the total sample and between severity subgroups based on quartiles of SCL-90 scores . Utilities were expected to decline with increased severity . Both EQ-5D and SF-6D utilities differed significantly between patients of adjacent severity groups . Mean utilities increased from 0.51 at baseline to 0.68 at 1.5 years follow-up for EQ-5D and from 0.58 to 0.70 for SF-6D . For all severity subgroups , the mean change in EQ-5D utilities as well as in SF-6D utilities was statistically significant . St and ardised response means were higher for SF-6D utilities . We concluded that both EQ-5D and SF-6D discriminated between severity subgroups and captured improvements in health over time . However , the use of EQ-5D result ed in larger health gains and consequent lower cost-utility ratios , especially for the subgroup with the highest severity of mental health problems
The EQ-5D and SF-36 achieved mixed results in the quantitative testing against psychometric criteria .
The qualitative analysis suggests this is because they provide a very limited coverage of themes identified by people with mental health problems .
BACKGROUND Generic preference-based measures of health like the EQ-5D and SF-6D ( ® ) are increasingly being used in economic evaluation and outcome assessment .
However , there are concerns as to whether or not these generic measures are appropriate for use in people with mental health problems .
OBJECTIVES The EQ-5D and SF-36 ( ® ) ( including its derivatives the SF-12 ( ® ) and SF-6D ) were assessed using the psychometric criteria of validity and responsiveness using quantitative and qualitative methods .
Another aim was to estimate mapping functions between the EQ-5D and SF-6D and condition-specific measures , where appropriate .