Measurement of problems in activities and participation in patients with anxiety, depression and schizophrenia using the ICF checklist

Background Although disability in persons with anxiety and depression disorders has been measured, the problem with some studies is that they use tools that measure the state of health, when the subjective nature of the measuring system does not permit the exact measurement of disability. The ICF Checklist provides a new paradigm for measuring disability that focuses more on the consequences than on the illness itself. The objective of this study is to compare the problems in Activities and Participation observed in patients with anxiety, depressive, and schizophrenic disorders, using the ICF Checklist. Methods The ICF Checklist was administered to 72 patients with anxiety or depressive disorders and 28 patients with schizophrenia. They were diagnosed in accordance with the criteria of the ICD-10. Chi-square analysis was carried out to determine the differences between the groups studied with respect to the Activities and Participation scales of the ICF Checklist and the nominal data of the socio-demographic variables. Results The group with anxiety-depression had a higher percentage of patients with problems preparing meals (30.6%) and achieving intimate relationships (59.7%) than did the patients with schizophrenia. The group with schizophrenia had a higher percentage of patients who had problems watching (39.3%), listening (42.9%), undertaking a single task (60.7%), communicating, fine hand use (57.1%), using transportation (64.3%), and caring for body parts (67.9%), among others. Conclusions The ICF Checklist permits comparison of the impact mental disorders have on patients. It provides a more appropriate way of evaluating these illnesses in relation to others, considering not only the question of mortality but also the years lived with disability due to illness.