Scoring and Interpreting
the Outcome Questionnaire-45
Scoring III. Subscales
The OQ-45 provides a total score and three subscores. Symptom Distress (SD) Score
Range: 0-100
1. To score the OQ-45, simply write the numeric value Clinical cut-off score: 36 or more – indicates symptoms of
(found next to each client response box) selected by the clinical significance
client in the corresponding scoring box found to the Reliable change: indicated when a client’s score changes by 10
right of each item on the right side of the questionnaire. points or more (useful if you give the OQ-45 at two different
There is one scoring box for each item which will points in time).
automatically place the score for any item into its
specific subscale category. Please note that the numeric values Research suggests that the most common disorders are
for items 1, 12, 13, 20, 21, 24, 31, 37, 43 are in reverse.. anxiety disorders, affective disorders, adjustment disorders
and stress related illness. The SD subscale is composed of
2. When the score for each item has been written in the items that have been found to reflect the symptoms of these
corresponding box, add up each vertical column of disorders. A high score indicates the client is bothered by
numbers, and write the total for each column in the these symptoms, while low scores indicate either absence or a
space provided in the bottom right-hand corner of the denial of the symptoms. Symptom scores correlate highly
sheet. This will leave 3 column totals, each representing with various measures of depression (e.g., the BDI) and
one of the three subscales for the OQ. anxiety (e.g., the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory).
3. When these three column totals are added together, a Interpersonal Relations (IR) Score
total score for the questionnaire will be obtained which Range: 0-44
should be written in the total box found at the bottom. Clinical cut-off score: 15 or more – indicates symptoms of
clinical significance
4. Missing data: If a client leaves an item blank, use the Reliable change: indicated when a client’s score changes by 8
average score for the remaining subscale items rounded points or more (useful if you give the OQ-45 at two different
to the nearest whole number in place of the missing points in time).
value.
IR items assess complaints such as loneliness, conflicts with
others, family and marriage problems. High scores suggest
Interpreting difficulties in these areas, while low scores suggest both the
There are three elements to consider when interpreting the absence of interpersonal problems as well as satisfaction with
OQ-45: the quality of intimate relationships.
• The client’s answers to certain critical items
• The total score Social Role (SR) Score
• The subscale scores Range: 0-36
Clinical cut-off score: 12 or more – indicates symptoms of
I. Critical items clinical significance
Any critical item with an answer other than zero should be Reliable change: indicated when a client’s score changes by 7
flagged for follow-up in the clinical interview: points or more (useful if you give the OQ-45 at two different
points in time).
• Item 8: Suicide
• Items 11, 32: Substance abuse SR items measure the extent to which difficulties in the social
• Item 44: Violence roles of worker, homemaker or student are present. Conflicts
at work, overwork, distress and inefficiency in these roles are
II. Total Score assessed. High scores indicate difficulty in social roles, while
Range: 0-180 low scores indicate adequate social role adjustment.
Cut-off score: 63 or more – indicates symptoms of clinical
significance Note: Additional attention should be given to low scores to
Reliable change: indicated when a client’s score changes by 14 determine whether they result from role satisfaction or from
points or more (useful if you give the OQ-45 at two different the client’s unemployment (e.g., the client arbitrarily marking
points in time). the items 0 for never or not applicable).
This score is calculated by summing all 45 items. The higher
the score, the more disturbed the client.
The above document is summarized from the OQ-45 Administration
A high score suggests that the client is admitting to a large and Scoring Manual. In addition to scoring and interpretation
number of symptoms of distress (mainly anxiety, depression, instructions, the manual provides details about the development and
somatic problems and stress) as well as difficulties in norming of the OQ-45; reliability and validity; age, gender, and
interpersonal relationships, social role (such as work or school), and ethnicity differences; a factor analytic study of the OQ-45; references;
and other miscellaneous material. See David Gilles-Thomas if you are
in their general quality of life.
interested in looking at the manual.
8/17/98
