Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale score code N

Identifying and definitional attributes

Metadata item type:Help on this termData Element
Short name:Help on this termLevel of psychiatric symptom severity (HoNOS score)
METEOR identifier:Help on this term717795
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Health, Standard 17/01/2020
Definition:Help on this term

An assessment of the severity of a person's psychiatric symptoms, as represented by a Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) score-based code.

Context:Help on this term

Psychiatric symptom severity, persons aged 18 to 64 years.

Data element concept attributes

Identifying and definitional attributes

Data element concept:Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity
METEOR identifier:Help on this term539187
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Health, Standard 11/04/2014
  • Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, Standard 15/10/2014
  • Tasmanian Health, Standard 20/12/2016
Definition:Help on this termAn assessment of the severity of a person's psychiatric symptoms.
Object class:Help on this termPerson
Property:Help on this termLevel of psychiatric symptom severity

Value domain attributes

Identifying and definitional attributes

Value domain:Health of the Nation Outcome Scale score code N
METEOR identifier:Help on this term717797
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Health, Standard 17/01/2020
Definition:Help on this term

A code set representing the severity of psychiatric symptoms of an individual aged 18 to 64 years.

Representational attributes

Representation class:Help on this termCode
Data type:Help on this termNumber
Format:Help on this termN
Maximum character length:Help on this term1
Permissible values:Help on this term
ValueMeaning
0No problems within the period stated
1Minor problem requiring no action
2Mild problem but definitely present
3Moderately severe problem
4Severe to very severe problem
Supplementary values:Help on this term
ValueMeaning
8Unknown

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:Help on this term

CODE 8    Unknown

This code should be used for HoNOS values that are missing or recorded in the HoNOS tool as '7 - Not stated/missing' and '9 - Unknown'.

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) is used to rate adult mental health service users. Together, the scales rate various aspects of mental and social health.

HoNOS is answered on an item-specific anchored 5-point scale with higher scores indicating more problems. Each scale is assigned a value of between 0 and 4, or 8 for unknown. The twelve scales are as follows:

  • Behavioural disturbance
  • Non-accidental self injury
  • Problem drinking or drug use
  • Cognitive problems
  • Problems related to physical illness or disability
  • Problems associated with hallucinations and delusions
  • Problems associated with depressive symptoms
  • Other mental and behavioural problems
  • Problems with social or supportive relationships
  • Problems with activities of daily living
  • Overall problems with living conditions
  • Problems with work and leisure activities and the quality of the daytime environment.

The sum of the individual scores of each of the scales (excluding supplementary value 8 Unknown) represents the total HoNOS score. The total HoNOS score ranges from 0 to 48, and represents the overall severity of an individual's psychiatric symptoms.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:Help on this term

Independent Hospital Pricing Authority

Data element attributes

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:Help on this term

Independent Hospital Pricing Authority

Reference documents:Help on this term

Royal College of Psychiatrists 2019. Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS), Viewed 5 September 2019,
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/events/in-house-training/health-of-nation-outcome-scales

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:Help on this term
Supersedes Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale score code N
  • Health, Superseded 17/01/2020
Has been superseded by Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale score code N
  • Health, Recorded 02/08/2022
See also Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale 65+ score code N
  • Health, Superseded 23/12/2020
  • Tasmanian Health, Standard 06/05/2020
See also Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale 65+ score code N
  • Health, Standard 23/12/2020
See also Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents score code N
  • Health, Standard 19/02/2021
See also Person—level of psychiatric symptom severity, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents score code N
  • Health, Superseded 19/02/2021
Implementation in Data Set Specifications:Help on this term

Activity based funding: Mental health care NBEDS 2020–21
Health, Superseded 23/12/2020

Implementation start date: 01/07/2020

Implementation end date: 30/06/2021

Conditional obligation:

Reporting of the HoNOS at the start of the mental health phase of care is mandatory for patients in all settings.

Reporting of the HoNOS is not mandatory if mental health phase of care is reported as Assessment Only.

The HoNOS should only be reported for patients aged 18 years to 64 years.


Activity based funding: Mental health care NBEDS 2021–22
Health, Superseded 17/12/2021

Implementation start date: 01/07/2021

Implementation end date: 30/06/2022

Conditional obligation:

Reporting of the HoNOS at the start of the mental health phase of care is mandatory for patients in all settings.

Reporting of the HoNOS is not mandatory if mental health phase of care is reported as Assessment Only.

The HoNOS should only be reported for patients aged 18 years to 64 years.


Activity based funding: Mental health care NBEDS 2022–23
Health, Standard 17/12/2021

Implementation start date: 01/07/2022

Implementation end date: 30/06/2023

Conditional obligation:

Reporting of the HoNOS at the start of the mental health phase of care is mandatory for patients in all settings.

Reporting of the HoNOS is not mandatory if the response to Episode of care—clinical assessment only indicator, yes/no/not stated/inadequately described, code N is CODE 1 'Yes'.

The HoNOS should only be reported for patients aged 18 years to 64 years.