Thanks to the participants who asked questions during the session. We didn’t have time to answer all the questions live — here are a few that we missed.
Is MSS suitable for all ages? The validation samples ranged from 18 to 78 years so it is yet to be validated in children or adolescents, however there was no significant item bias by age across the adult samples, so it performs consistently across the adult lifespan.
Are there any populations the MSS is not suitable for? I would say children and adolescents (as the validation samples ranged from 18 to 78 years of age), those with intellectual disability or significant cognitive impairment, those with a limited proficiency in English and those in acute crisis presentations (generally the measure is better suited to the assessment and formulation phase of treatment).
Is MSS ok for neurodiverse population? Yes, the MSS can be a valuable tool for this population. Neurodiverse individuals absolutely can and do develop maladaptive schemas, the experience of growing up neurodivergent in a neurotypical world can be a significant source of unmet needs.
Is MSS available in other languages, such Spanish?
We hope to add a Spanish translation in the future!
Can you use the MSS to someone who has limited education? The scale requires reflecting on statements about beliefs, emotions, and relationships. There’s been no specific reading level cut-off established yet, but clinically, if a client can understand and meaningfully respond to statements like “I feel confident making decisions on my own” using a 5-point agree/disagree scale, they should be able to complete it. If a clients has limited literacy, reading a few items aloud and working through a few items together would be a good idea to check understanding before proceeding.
Why aren’t you mapping across the 7 need reconceptualization that is now being used by the ISST? The MSS is designed to be an evolving, open-source tool. As the ISST’s 7-need model gains further empirical support, future versions of the MSS could certainly be tested against that structure. NovoPsych is committed to iterative refinement based on emerging evidence, so this is something that could be explored in future research. We’d welcome collaboration on that front.
In this webinar, Dr David Hegarty and Dr Carla Smyth will show how contemporary research has informed new schema constructs important to psychological therapy.
The session will introduce the Maladaptive Schema Scales (MSS). Clinicians will explore practical strategies for understanding and interpreting MSS results, translating schemas into case formulations, and using insights to enhance client self-awareness and therapeutic outcomes. This webinar is suitable for psychologists and mental health clinicians who want to understand more about this contemporary schema assessment tool and its clinical applications.
The Maladaptive Schema Scale (MSS) is designed to assess problematic schemas in clinical populations and inform case conceptualisations for adults experiencing a range of mental health problems, particularly those with complex issues such as personality pathology, interpersonal difficulties, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a history of abuse.
Schemas have long been a staple of psychological therapy, defined as pervasive patterns of thoughts, behaviours and emotions.
Early maladaptive schemas were first described by Jeffery Young in the 1990s, but some 30 years after their development a wealth or research relevant to schemas has been conducted, including on attachment, trauma and identity.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the theoretical, clinical and psychometric foundations of the Maladaptive Schema Scale (MSS).
2. Identify the evolution of schema research, and how the MSS builds on traditional schema assessment tools such as the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ).
3. Learn how the MSS provides a comprehensive framework for understanding clients by assessing 27 schemas, integrating both traditional early maladaptive schemas and additional schemas based on contemporary research.
4. Confidently interpret MSS results, including use of clinical cut-offs and conceptual models, to inform case formulation and treatment planning.
5. Integrate the MSS into clinical practice across multiple therapeutic modalities, including Schema Therapy, CBT, and EMDR.
6. Apply MSS assessment findings to guide formulation, treatment targets, monitor progress, and enhance client self-awareness and engagement.
Dr David Hegarty works to translate scientific literature into useful metrics for clinicians. With a PhD in computerised adaptive cognitive training he uses his deep understanding of statistics and data analytics to synthesise novel approaches to psychometric assessment.
Dr. Carla Smyth is a practising clinical psychologist with a background in community mental health and private practice. She is passionate about integrating evidence-based tools into clinical practice and is a strong advocate for routine outcome monitoring. In her dual role as a clinician and researcher, Carla connects the worlds of frontline practice and psychometric assessment. Her hands-on experience with clients informs her contributions to NovoPsych, ensuring that its tools are both practical and impactful, to ease the pressures on clinicians while enhancing therapeutic outcomes.