title: Psychometric analysis of the brief symptom inventory 18 (BSI-18) in a representative German sample.
abstract: The BSI-18 contains the three six-item scales somatization, depression, and anxiety as well as the Global Severity Index (GSI), including all 18 items. The BSI-18 is the latest and shortest of the multidimensional versions of the Symptom-Checklist 90-R, but its psychometric properties have not been sufficiently clarified yet.
  
  
  
  Based on a representative sample of N = 2516 participants (aged 14-94 years), detailed psychometric analyses were carried out.
  
  
  
  The internal consistency was good: Somatization α = .82, Depression α = .87, Anxiety α = .84 and GSI α = .93. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three scales as second-order and GSI as first-order factors. The model fit based on RMSEA is good but that model fit based on CFI and TLI are too low.
  
  
  
  Therefore, it is a very short, reliable instrument for the assessment of psychological distress. The BSI-18 can be used to reliably assess psychological distress in the general population. However, further studies need to evaluate the usefulness of standardization in clinical samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, Osterburger Str. 25, 39576, Hansestadt Stendal, Germany. Gabriele.franke@hs-magdeburg.de.
authors.forename: Gabriele Helga
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, Osterburger Str. 25, 39576, Hansestadt Stendal, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glaesmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barkmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Braehler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BSI-18; Factorial structure; Psychological distress; Reliability