What the LSP-16 measures
The LSP-16 focuses on the general functioning and life skills of people with a mental illness, rather than on symptoms. It asks about things like personal hygiene, keeping up friendships, being able to get through the day, getting into conflict with others and managing medication.
It is a shortened version of the longer Life Skills Profile, which was developed in Australia, and it is part of the standard outcome measures used in Australian public mental health services. That is one reason it is familiar to mental health clinicians and to the NDIA.
The four subscales
The 16 items group into four areas, so the scores show where the biggest difficulties are:
- Withdrawal: social contact, warmth with others, interest and initiative
- Self care: personal hygiene, grooming and looking after your living space
- Compliance: taking medication as prescribed and working with health services
- Antisocial: behaviour that causes conflict or offence with others
How it is scored
Each item is rated from 0 to 3, where 0 means no problem and 3 means an extreme problem. Total scores range from 0 to 48, and higher scores mean greater difficulty. The rating is based on the person's usual functioning over the past three months, not on a single good or bad day.
Because it is rated by someone else, the result depends on how well the rater knows the person. A clinician who has seen someone over time, or a carer who lives with them, will usually give the most accurate picture.
How the NDIA uses the LSP-16
For a primary psychosocial disability, the NDIA asks for a statement from a treating health professional, plus a functional capacity assessment. It lists three tools for that assessment: the LSP-16, the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) and the WHODAS 2.0.
The LSP-16 is often completed alongside the Evidence of Psychosocial Disability form, or attached to a report. It is also useful at plan reassessments, because a repeat score shows whether everyday functioning has changed.
Who can complete it
The NDIA accepts evidence from treating professionals such as a psychiatrist, GP, psychologist or paediatrician, and from specialist mental health staff such as mental health nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. Mental health staff trained through the Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network, including peer workers, can also provide evidence.
It is quick to complete, so it is often done during a normal appointment. If you are already a participant, a functional assessment that includes the LSP-16 is usually paid from your Capacity Building budget. Psychology has a 2026/27 price limit of $252.99 an hour and occupational therapy $193.99 an hour in most of Australia.
Tips for an accurate LSP-16
- Ask the person who knows you best, often a long term clinician, to complete it
- Make sure it reflects the last three months, including hard periods
- Tell the rater about help you get from family that hides your difficulties, such as reminders and cleaning
- Ask for the scores to be explained in plain words in the report
- Keep a copy to compare at your next reassessment