Clinical Utility of the CCAPS, CAS, and OQ-45

This article reports on a study evaluating the clinical utility of three clinical assessment measures commonly used in university counseling centers: the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45), the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms, and the College Adjustment Scales. Results found subscales assessing depression and anxiety were highly correlated between measures; however, subscales assessing academic and family difficulties correlated only slightly. Clinicians ranked the OQ-45 significantly lower than the other measures in matching clinicians’ diagnostic impressions. No other significant differences were found, however, in terms of adding to clinicians’ diagnostic impressions or matching clinicians’ assessment of client change. At the end, this article summarizes clinician comments regarding strengths and weaknesses of the three measures and offers practice recommendations.