Computer system development for therapy-activity-class tracking in psychiatric rehabilitation

We aimed to present the Therapy-Activity-Class Tracking (TAC) system that is a user-friendly design, which includes identifying data in specific modalities (e.g., name and discipline of clinician/group leader, individual attendance) and provides a behavioral-rating section that assesses the quality and quantity of the individual's behavior during class. The TAC system produces not only information that supports individualized clinical decisions, but also outcome data to compare an institution's performance with that of peer organizations in an effort to improve quality and accountability. Also, we aimed to evaluate the validity of behavior rating scales of the TAC system. Archival clinical data from a sample of 126 participants (mean age 38.34 years, SD 12.48) who met criteria for DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders or bipolar disorder were analyzed to examine validity of the six behavioral rating scales of the TAC system. Behavior ratings from the TAC system demonstrated that adaptive behavior ratings, that is, attention, participation, and spontaneity, were positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with maladaptive behaviors, that is, withdrawal, disruptive behavior, and bizarre behavior. Additionally, behavior ratings from the TAC system showed a high level of concurrent validity with treatment utilization and subscales of the Nurses' Observational Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE-30). The system has been successfully utilized for both administrative and clinical purposes to facilitate recovery and rehabilitation in the context of evidence-based practices within an inpatient setting.