The MRC Needs for Care Assessment: progress and controversies

Abstract

Reviews knowledge and controversies about the Medical Research Council Needs for Care Assessment (MRCNCA), an instrument developed to measure the needs of the long-term mentally ill living in the community and in touch with psychiatric services. Three studies that have examined the reliability and validity of the measure are cited. They suggest that it has good reliability in the hands of suitably trained investigators, and is robust enough to tolerate minor procedural deviations. Training and manpower requirements of assessors are discussed. The difficulties I. G. Pryce et al (see PA Vol 80:42886) had with the MRCNCA in rating need for social and personal skills in some old/severely handicapped patients are addressed. L. I. Hogg and M. Marshall's (see record 1993-24121-001) criticisms of use of the MRCNCA with homeless mentally ill and the MRCNCA's needs assessment schedule are also addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)