Comparative psychometric analyses of the SCL-90-R and its short versions in patients with affective disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparative psychometric analyses of the SCL-90-R and its short versions in patients with affective disorders

AU - Prinz, Ulrich

AU - Nutzinger, Detlev O

AU - Schulz, Holger

AU - Petermann, Franz

AU - Braukhaus, Christoph

AU - Andreas, Sylke

PY - 2013/1/1

Y1 - 2013/1/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread application of Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R), its psychometric weaknesses have repeatedly been noted. This study aimed to comparatively assess the psychometric properties of the SCL-90-R scales and the scales of its short versions Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Symptom Checklist-27 (SCL-27), Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Symptom Checklist-14 (SCL-14), and Symptom Checklist short version-9 (SCL-K-9) in patients with affective disorders.METHODS: The data of 2,727 patients within the main treatment group of affective disorders were assessed according to the DSM-IV. Patients completed the SCL-90-R and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding the internal consistency of the SCL-90-R scales and the scales of the short versions. The dimensional structure was only supported for the short versions BSI-18, SCL-14 and SCL-K-9. The assessment of convergent validity revealed high correlations. With regard to the discriminant validity, there were medium correlations. With regard to the sensitivity of change, no significant differences between the scales were found.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the scales of the short versions show mostly satisfactory psychometric properties in comparison to the scales of the SCL-90-R. The results support the application of the short versions as screening instruments, especially the BSI-18, and more economic variants of the SCL-90-R covering a wide range of psychopathological symptoms.

AB - BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread application of Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R), its psychometric weaknesses have repeatedly been noted. This study aimed to comparatively assess the psychometric properties of the SCL-90-R scales and the scales of its short versions Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Symptom Checklist-27 (SCL-27), Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Symptom Checklist-14 (SCL-14), and Symptom Checklist short version-9 (SCL-K-9) in patients with affective disorders.METHODS: The data of 2,727 patients within the main treatment group of affective disorders were assessed according to the DSM-IV. Patients completed the SCL-90-R and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding the internal consistency of the SCL-90-R scales and the scales of the short versions. The dimensional structure was only supported for the short versions BSI-18, SCL-14 and SCL-K-9. The assessment of convergent validity revealed high correlations. With regard to the discriminant validity, there were medium correlations. With regard to the sensitivity of change, no significant differences between the scales were found.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the scales of the short versions show mostly satisfactory psychometric properties in comparison to the scales of the SCL-90-R. The results support the application of the short versions as screening instruments, especially the BSI-18, and more economic variants of the SCL-90-R covering a wide range of psychopathological symptoms.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Factor Analysis, Statistical

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Mood Disorders

KW - Personality Inventory

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Psychometrics

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Sensitivity and Specificity

KW - Severity of Illness Index

U2 - 10.1186/1471-244X-13-104

DO - 10.1186/1471-244X-13-104

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 23537095

VL - 13

SP - 104

JO - BMC PSYCHIATRY

JF - BMC PSYCHIATRY

SN - 1471-244X

ER -