The value of an improved scoring system (CGHQ) for the General Health Questionnaire in a representative community sample.
The value of a new method of scoring the General Health Questionnaire (CGHQ) has been assessed in a representative sample of 6317 British community residents aged 18+. The CGHQ, which takes account of the chronicity of psychiatric symptoms, is found to be superior to the conventional scoring method in yielding a wider range of scores, a more normal distribution and in its close association to a well validated measure of neurotic illness. On the other hand, the conventional GHQ and the CGHQ score appear equally sensitive to a number of socio-demographic variables, including social class, marital status and employment. An important finding is that the two methods identify different individuals as cases. Compared with the GHQ, the CGHQ identifies a higher proportion of the middle-aged. The implications of these findings with respect to the optimal method of scoring the GHQ are discussed.
Huppert
F A
FA
Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University Clinical School, Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Gore
M
M
Elliott
B J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom