HONOS
Also written as: HONOS — Health of the Nation Outcome Scales
Health of the Nation Outcome Scales, a standardized instrument used to measure mental health outcomes and severity of symptoms in psychiatric patients.
Full Definition
The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HONOS) is a 12-item clinician-rated assessment tool designed to measure the health and social functioning of people with severe mental illness. Developed in the UK, HONOS evaluates behavioral problems, impairments, symptoms, and social functioning across multiple domains including overactive or aggressive behavior, non-accidental self-injury, problem drinking or drug use, cognitive problems, physical illness, hallucinations and delusions, depressed mood, and various aspects of daily living and social relationships. Each item is scored from 0 (no problem) to 4 (severe problem), providing a comprehensive picture of patient functioning. HONOS serves as both an outcome measurement tool for treatment effectiveness and a means of tracking patient progress over time in mental health services.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize as HONOS; distinguish from HONOS-CA (children and adolescents version).
In Context
- "The case manager completed HONOS ratings at admission and six-month intervals to track treatment progress." — outcome measurement protocol
- "HONOS scores showed significant improvement across all domains except social relationships." — clinical outcomes report