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Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS)
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Modified Overt Aggression Scale
Classification
Supplemental: Mitochondrial Diseases (Mito) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Short Description of Instrument
The Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) was developed to assess four types of aggressive behavior: verbal aggression, aggression against property, auto aggression, physical aggression. The MOAS instructs the individual to rate the patient's aggressive behaviors over the past week.
 
The MOAS is individually administered. It is generally administered by nursing staff although no specific qualifications are required.
Scoring and Psychometric Properties
Scoring: Items are scored on a 5-point scale. Scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating more aggression.
 
Psychometric Properties: See Kay et al., 1988 and Suris et al., 2004 for psychometric properties information.
Rationale/Justification
Strengths/Weaknesses:
This is a widely used measure that has been validated for use in both children and adults. It has been used as an outcome measure in a variety of intervention studies and as such is sensitive to change over short intervals. With the broad age range, is also useful as an instrument for longitudinal follow-up.
 
Mitochondrial Disease-Specific:
Strengths: The MOAS has been used in acute care psychiatric settings, making it a useful tool with new onset or acute exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms as may be observed in individuals experiencing a flare of symptoms in mitochondrial disorder.
 
Weaknesses: The instrument has not been specifically utilized in this population and its psychometric properties for this group are therefore unknown.
References
Key Reference:
Yudofsky SC, Silver JM, Jackson W, Endicott J, Williams D. The Overt Aggression Scale for the objective rating of verbal and physical aggression. Am J Psychiatry. 1986 Jan;143(1):35-9.
 
Additional References:
Kay SR, Wolkenfeld F, Murrill LM. Profiles of aggression among psychiatric patients. I. Nature and prevalence. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1988 Sep;176(9):539-46.
 
Chukwujekwu DC, Stanley PC. The Modified Overt Aggression Scale: how valid in this environment? Niger J Med. 2008 Apr-Jun;17(2):153-5.
 
Suris A, Lind L, Emmett G, Borman PD, Kashner M, Barratt ES. Measures of aggressive behavior: overview of clinical and research instruments. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2004;9(2):165-227.
 
Document last updated March 2024