Evaluates possible impairment in 15 major domains of psychosocial functioning.
Russell A. Barkley, Ph. D, ABPP, ABCN

• Age Range: 18-89 years
• Time: 5-7 minutes, 3-5 minutes (Quick Screen)

To diagnose a mental disorder, or evaluate a disability claim, clinicians must assess functional impairment–not just the presence of symptoms. The BFIS is the first empirically-based, norm-referenced tool designed to meet this need. It is ideal for forensic psychologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and psychopathology researchers.

Functional impairment is critical to the diagnosis of psychological disorders, as well as a major focus of intervention. The BFIS allows clinicians to make confident judgments about an individual’s impairment, compared to the general population, for more informed decisions about prioritizing treatment goals.  

Featuring both Self-Report and Other-Report (spouse, parent or sibling) Forms, the BFIS is reliable, valid and user-friendly.  

Contents
*Psychosocial Impairment: Definition and Assessment
*Development of the Major Life Activities Scale (BFIS): History, Survey, Methods and Normative Sample
*Factor Analyses, Scale Construction and Item Frequencies
*Relationship to the Subscales to Demographic Factors in the Normative Sample
*Reliability
*Validity
*Scoring and Interpretation

Enhancing the convenience and value of the BFIS, the limited photocopy license allows the reproduction of all forms and score sheets, without the expense of reordering. The large format, and sturdy wire binding, facilitate photocopying.

Reproducible Forms and Score Sheets
*BFIS-LF (Long Form):  Self-Report
*BFIS Quick Screen: Self-Report
*BFIS-LF (Long Form): Other-Report
*BFIS Quick Screen: Other-Report
*BFIS Impairment Interview
*BFIS-LF: Self-Report Score Sheet for Raw Scores (Ages 18-39)
*BFIS-LF Self-Report Score Sheet for Raw Scores (Ages 40-59)
*BFIS-LF Self-Report Score Sheet for Raw Scores (Ages 60-89)
*BFIS Quick Screen: Self-Report Score Sheet for Raw Scores (All Ages)

The BFIS is based on more than 16 years of research, using prototypes of the large normative sample (N>1,200) is representative of the U.S. population in terms of region, socioeconomic status, education, ethnicity/race, and gender, based on the 2000 U.S. Census. Scoring sheets present norms for three age groups of adults. Factor analysis of the scale reveals a single factor reflecting impairment, on which all 15 of the domain ratings load.

Reliability
Reliability of the scores is quite satisfactory, as evidenced by high internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha of .97 for Long Form, .92 for Quick Screen); good interobserver agreement (.67 to .70 across scales), and high test-retest reliability over a 2-3 week interval(.72 for the Total Impairment Score and .71 for Quick Screen).

Validity
Validity of the scale scores was evident in numerous correlations of the scale scores with measures of ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety and general psychopathology; and in correlations, regression analyses, and group comparisons concerning disorder discrimination and concurrent with various measures of functional impairment in major life activities (associated risks in executive functioning; educational history; occupational functioning; social relationships; marriage; driving; financial management; crime and drug use; parenting stress, and offspring psychopathology, among other domains).
 
The Barkley Functional Impairment Scale is a 124-page, wire-bound book that includes reproducible Forms and Score Sheets.