Suitability and utility of the CORE-OM and CORE-A for assessing severity of presenting problems in psychological therapy services based in primary and secondary care settings

Abstract

Background: There is a need for reliable assessment tools that are suitable for the counselling and the psychological therapy services in primary and secondary care settings. Aims: To test the suitability and utility of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and CORE-Assessment (CORE-A) assessment tools. Method: Service intake data were analysed from counselling and psychological therapy services in 32 primary care settings and 17 secondary care settings. Results: Completion rates exceeded 98% in both of the settings sampled. Intake severity levels were similar but secondary care patients were more likely to score above the risk cut-off and the severe threshold and to have experienced their problems for a greater duration. Conclusions: The CORE-OM and CORE-A are suitable assessment tools that show small but logical differences between psychological therapy services in primary- and secondary-based care.