Measurement characteristics of the mental health scale from the OARS. Older Americans Resources and Services.
Psychometric properties of the mental health scale from the OARS, which is also called the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule (SPES), were explored in a large (N = 2015) cross-sectional sample ranging in age from 26 to 86 years. Results indicated that the 15 SPES items represented three distinctive factors--alienation, somatic symptoms, and depression. Only on somatic symptoms was there a pattern of greater endorsement by older respondents. The results illustrate that global test scores can be misleading, especially when applied to different age groups.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012918:Social Alienation