title: Comparative psychometric analyses of the SCL-90-R and its short versions in patients with affective disorders.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center of Psychiatric Care Rickling, D - 24635, Rickling, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Detlev O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Nutzinger
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braukhaus
authors.forename: Sylke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references.citation: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961 Jun;4:561-71
references.pmid: 13688369
references.citation: Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Feb;178:145-53
references.pmid: 11157427
references.citation: Psychol Med. 2004 May;34(4):597-611
references.pmid: 15099415
references.citation: J Nurs Meas. 1996 Winter;4(2):117-27
references.pmid: 9170779
references.citation: Assessment. 2000 Jun;7(2):103-11
references.pmid: 10868247
references.citation: Eur J Pain. 2001;5(2):187-97
references.pmid: 11465984
references.citation: J Subst Abuse. 1998;10(2):103-14
references.pmid: 9854697
references.citation: Nord J Psychiatry. 2003;57(2):113-8
references.pmid: 12745773
references.citation: J Clin Psychol. 1993 Mar;49(2):212-5
references.pmid: 8486803