To aid this, future researchers could confine their selection to the measures below until such time as clearer scientific evidence can distinguish between their relative merits. Measures of impairment appear to have limited value except, perhaps, in patients with respiratory disease. Their use in general adult critical care survivors is not recommended. Mental functional status is probably best assessed using Profile of Moods States or the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales, as these cover anxiety in addition to depressive symptoms. In patients who are recovering from trauma, the Impact of Events Scale might also be considered.
Neuropsychological function needs to be considered in post head-injury patients.
There are no clear contenders but, on balance, the Trailmaking Tests and the WCST might be investigated initially. Measures of recovery offer few options. The Glasgow Outcome Score is the only multi-item scale available. Health-related quality of life offers a wider range of possibilities. It is suggested that the SF-36 is added to these, as it is being used increasingly often and widely in healthcare research and its measurement properties in other areas have been demonstrated.