Personality diagnostic questionnaire-revised (PDQ-R) personality disorder scores and negative life events independently predict changes in hopkins symptom checklist (SCL-90) Psychopathology Scores

The present study employed a prospective design to investigate whether Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire—Revised (PDQ-R) scores and/or Hassles Scale—Revised (HS-R) scores predict changes in Axis I psychopathology levels over 1 month, in a nonclinical sample of young adults. The PDQ-R, HS-R, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) were administered to a mixed-sex sample of 100 undergraduate students on two occasions separated by 1 month. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that (1) time 1 PDQ-R composite scores predicted changes in scores on 11 SLC-90 scales; (2) time 1 PDQ-R impairment/distress index scores predicted changes in SCL-90 general symptom index scores; (3) only one of the individual PDQ-R personality disorder subscales—the schizotypal personality disorder subscale—predicted changes in SCL-90 general symptom index scores; (4) HS-R scores predicted changes in scores on 9 SCL-90 scales; and (5) in only 3 of the 27 analyses conducted did the statistical interaction between PDQ-R and HS-R scores predict changes in SCL-90 scores. These findings indicate that personality disorder symptomatology and negative life events may independently predict changes in Axis I psychopathology levels and, thus, support the continued inclusion of Axis II and Axis IV in future versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.     

The SCL-90-R as a screening instrument for severe personality disturbance among outpatients with mood and anxiety disorders

Our objective was to examine whether the SCL-90-R, a widely used self-report measure of distress and psychopathology, could screen for personality disorders in general and for severe personality disturbance (SPD) in particular, at the time when patients seek treatment for a state (mood or anxiety) disorder. The SCL-90-R was administered to 112 consecutive outpatients with various mood and anxiety disorders. The personality severity index (PSI) score, defined as the mean value of the scores on the SCL-90-R subscales of interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and paranoid ideation, was compared with the current symptom index (CSI) score, defined as the mean value of the scores on the remaining six SCL-90-R subscales. A positive screen was considered if PSI > CSI. SPD was defined as the presence of any DSM-III-R Cluster A and/or Cluster B personality disorder. The accuracy of the screen was verified by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders. The sensitivity of the PSI > CSI criterion to screen for SPD was 89.4%, while its sensitivity to screen for any DSM-III-R personality disorder was 72.9%. The SCL-90-R subscales that contributed the most to the screening discriminability of this SCL-90-R-derived screening measure were hostility, paranoid ideation, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. The SCL-90-R may be used to screen for SPD in routine work with outpatients with mood and anxiety disorders, but the results of the screening need to be verified because of the possibility of false negatives and false positives, although that possibility is apparently low. These findings may have important prognostic and treatment implications.     

Psychological functioning of recently bereaved, middle-aged women: the first 13 months

This study examined the natural course of psychological functioning in recently bereaved middle-aged women. 69 widows were assessed four times (T1-T4) between the period of 4 to 13 mo. after the loss and were compared to a matched nonwidowed group of 57. Of the SCL-90 feelings of depression, agoraphobic behavior, anxiety, hostility, somatization, feelings of insufficiency, and sleep disorders were heightened at 4 mo. after bereavement compared to the norm group. Significantly higher psychological dysfunctioning was found on all SCL-90 subscales than for non-widows. Over time, a decrease in psychological dysfunction was found for most widows; however, not every widow appeared to recover psychologically, and 17% of the widows showed severe psychological dysfunctioning at 13 mo. postbereavement (T4). With respect to the predictive value of the Total score on the SCL-90, at 13 mo., 27% of these widows had scores indicating severe psychological dysfunctioning; these were comparable to their scores at 4 mo. postbereavement.     

Psychological profile of Greek doctors: differences among five specialties

The aim of the present study was to explore the differences in the psychological profiles between genders and different specialties among Greek doctors. Five-thirty nine doctors in five different specialties, namely 115 general practitioners, 168 internists, 81 surgeons, 108 microbiologists and 67 anesthesiologists, participated in the study. 253 participants were specialized doctors and 286 participants were medical residents. The sample consisted of 280 women and 259 men. The mean age of the sample was 38.75(±7.98) years. A cross sectional survey study was conducted. Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to collect the data. Multivariate Analysis of Variance indicated the significant effect of specialty (Wilks’ Lambda = .20, p = .000), the effect of gender (Wilks’ Lambda = .90, p = .000) as well as their interaction (Wilks’ Lambda = .68, p = .000) on participants’ scores in SCL-90-R subscales. Internists reported high scores in 8 out of 9 subscales of SCL-90-R. Surgeons scored significantly higher compared to all other specialties in hostility(HS) subscale. Women reported statistically higher scores in almost all subscales of the SCL-90-R test compared to men, apart from HS (p = .191). Gender and specialty choice play role in the psychological profile of Greek doctors. Women and internists seem to be more prone to psychopathology. These findings should be taken into account in future studies and interventions.     

A re-evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Basic Character Inventory

The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the psychometric properties of the Basic Character Inventory (BCI). In a rather large sample of 503 subjects (323 women and 180 men, 88 non-psychotic psychiatric inpatients and 415 non-patients) factor analysis resulted in three factors with personality traits almost identical with the BCI Oral, Obsessive and Hysterical scales. BCI seems to be a fruitful and reliable assessment instrument for personality traits and character types as outlined in psychoanalytic theory. However, some of the trait subscales ought to be scrutinized in future psychometric re-evaluative studies of BCI on new, large samples. Another factor analysis showed that the BCI Oral scale, together with all the ten subscales of the psychiatric Symptom Check-list 90 (SCL-90), loaded on the first factor, and the BCI Obsessive and Hysterical scales loaded on the second factor, but with different signs. Orality seems to be related to psychopathology.     

Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD): a continuous measure of DSM-IV borderline psychopathology

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD), the first clinician-administered scale for the assessment of change in DSM-IV borderline psychopathology. The questions for the measure were adapted from the BPD module of the Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (DIPD-IV) to reflect a 1-week time frame and each of the nine criteria for BPD is rated on a five-point anchored rating scale of 0 to 4, yielding a total score of 0 to 36. Two diagnostic interviews that assess the presence of BPD were administered to 200 nonpsychotic patients: the BPD module of the DIPD-IV and the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R). The ZAN-BPD was also administered, blind to diagnostic information. In addition, each patient filled out a self-report measure of general psychopathology that is often used in borderline treatment studies, the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). The convergent validity of the ZAN-BPD and relevant scales of the SCL-90 and the DIB-R was assessed and found to be highly significant. The discriminant validity of the various scores of the ZAN-BPD was also found to be highly significant, easily discriminating the 139 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for BPD from the 61 patients who did not. In addition, internal consistency of the ZAN-BPD was found to be high (Cronbach's alpha=0.85). The interrater reliability of the ZAN-BPD was assessed using 32 conjoint interviews, while same day test-retest reliability was assessed in a separate sample of 40 patients. All reliability raters were blind to all previously collected information concerning each subject. All intraclass correlations were in the good to excellent range. Finally, the sensitivity of the ZAN-BPD to change was assessed using a third sample of 41 patients who were reinterviewed by a blind rater 7 to 10 days after the ZAN-BPD was first administered. The SCL-90 was also readministered at this time. The correlations between difference scores of the ZAN-BPD and difference scores of the SCL-90 were found to be significant, indicating that the ZAN-BPD measures change in a clinically meaningful manner. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the ZAN-BPD is a promising clinician-administered scale for the assessment of change in borderline psychopathology over time.     

Utility of the SCL-90-R with depressed and conduct-disordered adolescent inpatients.

We assessed the diagnostic utility of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) in a sample of adolescent inpatients. In Part 1 (n = 79), convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated for SCL-90-R scales measuring depression and paranoid ideation. Canonical correlation showed that SCL-90-R scales tapped two dimensions of adolescent psychopathology, a primary dimension of dysphoria and a secondary dimension of anger and mistrust. In Part 2 (n = 50), adolescents diagnosed as having major depression showed significant elevations on scales measuring depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive features. Although several scales had high diagnostic specificity for major depression and conduct disorder, sensitivity was low.     

Self-reported levels of psychopathology of drug abusers not currently in treatment

This study assessed levels of psychopathology, as measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, of drug users not in treatment. These levels were then compared with levels of psychopathology reported previously in the literature of drug users in treatment, the general population, psychiatric inpatients, and psychiatric outpatients. Results suggest that drug users not in treatment endorse significantly lower levels of psychopathology than drug users in treatment, psychiatric inpatients, and psychiatric outpatients. However, they endorse significantly higher levels of pathology than adult nonpatients and they appear most similar to adolescent nonpatients. Implications for clinical work (prevention and intervention) as well as for future research are discussed. The study also established preliminary cultural validity of SCL-90-R with Alaska Natives.     

Utility of the SCL-90-R With Depressed and Conduct-Disordered Adolescent Inpatients

We assessed the ciiagnosric utility of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-9O-R) in a sample of adolescent inpatients. In Part 1 (n = 73), convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated for SCL-90-R scales measuring depression and paranoid ideation, Canonical correlation showed that SCL-90-R scales tapped two dimensions of adolescent psychopathology, a primary dimension of dysphoria and a secondary dimension of anger and mistrust. In Part 2 (n = 50), adolescents diagnosed as having major depression showed significant elevations on scales measuring depression, anxiety, an obsessive-compulsive features. Although several scales had high diagnostic specificity for major depression and conduct dsorder, sensitivity was low.     

Gratitude,Psychopathology and Subjective Well-Being: Results from a 7.5-Month Prospective General Population Study

Gratitude is considered an important source of human strength in achieving and maintaining good mental health. Although complete mental health encompasses the absence of psychopathology and the presence of subjective well-being, no studies to date have examined relations between gratitude and both mental health dimensions together. Moreover, most studies focused on specific samples with a restricted demographic range. Our study, therefore, examined (a) demographic variability in the grateful trait, and (b) prospective associations between gratitude and both dimensions of mental health: psychopathology and subjective well-being. Using a four wave prospective survey design in a large (N = 706) sample of Dutch adults (M age = 44, SD age = 14, Range = 18–80), we measured gratitude with the SGRAT, symptoms of psychopathology with the SCL-90, and subjective well-being with the PANAS and SWLS. Gratitude was significantly associated with age, gender, education level, and employment status. Multilevel time-lagged regression analyses showed that the grateful trait did not predict symptoms of psychopathology, but was a significant albeit weak predictor of subjective well-being, when adjusting for the effects of demographic factors, and prior levels of subjective well-being and psychopathology. Our findings indicate that the grateful trait is associated with demographic factors, and shows complex connections with the presence of well-being and absence of psychopathology. These dynamics should be taken into consideration when studying the role of gratitude in mental health, and developing, applying, and evaluating gratitude interventions with the aim of enhancing subjective well-being and/or reducing psychopathology.     

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ)

The present study assesses the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). The questionnaire was administered to 598 healthy individuals from 15 different regions of Greece with a measure of socioeconomic characteristics and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The sample was split into two random halves, and exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor solution. This solution was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis on the second half of the sample. In terms of latent dimensions, the Greek version retains the three-factor structure as proposed by the initial authors. However, adequate fit was achieved only after omitting eight items. The shorter (10-item) version was submitted to further analysis. The shorter version provided satisfactory internal reliability and evidence indicating the validity of the scale with respect to SCL-90-R subscales. The stability of the questionnaire was verified by a high test-retest reliability over a 3-mo. period (r = .86). Sex and age differences were assessed. The 10-item version appears to be a practical, brief tool for clinical use.     

Psychometric evaluation of the symptom checklist (SCL-90) in psychiatric inpatients

The factorial validity, temporal stability and discriminatory power of the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) were investigated in a heterogeneous sample of short-stay psychiatric inpatients (n=437). Results from a confirmatory factorial approach suggested a reduced dimensionality for the SCL-90 rather than supporting the 10 or 9 a priori symptom dimensions. From exploratory factor analyses 4 clinically interpretable and moderately intercorrelated dimensions emerged: depression, hostile-suspiciousness, somatization and phobic anxiety. Internal consistency and temporal stability coefficients of these 4 subscales and of the global scale were satisfactory. SCL-90 discriminated poorly between different clinical groups. However, the scale quite successfully discriminated patients from healthy subjects from the general population. It is concluded that SCL-90 might be a valuable instrument for the detection of potential psychiatric cases in the general population.     

Psychopathological correlates of contextualized images in dreams

A contextualized image is a powerful central image in a dream which provides a picture context for the dominant emotion of the dreamer. This study examined the psychopathological correlates of both dream and nightmare contextualized images in a community-based sample of 378. As predicted, mean nightmare contextualized image scores were significantly higher than mean dream scores. In addition, while dream contextualized images were unrelated to psychopathology, nightmare contextualized images were significantly associated with elevated scores on three SCL-90-R subscales and the General Symptom Distress Index.     

Hassles,anxiety, and negative well-being

Adult volunteers (N = 234) responded to a “decontaminated” hassles scale plus measures of trait anxiety, perceived stress, psychiatric symptomatology, and minor physical ailments. All but the anxiety scale were time-referenced to the past month. Major findings were as follows: (1) Hassles and trait anxiety contributed positively to perceived stress, both individually and interactively, accounting altogether for 55% of the variance; highly anxious subjects showed lower increments in perceived stress with increasing hassles-exposure than did low anxious subjects. (2) Hassles and trait anxiety had a positive synergistic effect on psychiatric symptomatology which, along with the nonsignificant marginal main effects, accounted for 64% of the variance. (3) Hassles and trait anxiety had a positive synergistic effect on minor physical ailments in men; however, highly anxious women, who showed very high levels of illness under even low hassles-exposure, responded less to incremental stress than did low-anxious women. The significant Sex x Hassles x Trait-Anxiety interaction effect and all the implicated lower-order effects jointly accounted for 22% of the variance in minor ailments.     

Pilot Study of Psychopathology Among Roman Catholic Secular Clergy

This pilot study gathered information regarding overall levels of psychopathology in a nationally selected, random sample of U.S. Roman Catholic secular (i.e., diocesan) priests using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R; Derogatis, 2004). The study yielded a response rate of 45%. One-half of the participants reported marked psychological problems, with interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, and depression most strongly correlated with the instrument’s overall index of psychopathology. Four dimensional scales were elevated (i.e., obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, psychoticism), as were two indices (i.e., GSI, PST). Implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

中学生SCL-90评定结果分析及其常模的建立

随机抽取厦门市10所中学5251名中学生为样本,对SCL-90进行项目分析、信度和效度检验,并运用验证性因素分析探讨该量表结构的适合性;建立厦门市中学生SCL-90的性别与初高中常模并与已有的常模作跨时间和地域的比较。结果表明:SCL-90的同质性信度为0.97,分半信度为0.94,一阶和二阶验证性因素分析的各指标均有较为理想的拟合;有59.0%的中学生存在各种轻微的不良心理反应,有16.1%的中学生存在各种明显的心理症状,这些心理症状主要表现为敌对、强迫、人际关系敏感、抑郁、偏执和焦虑并存在不同程度的性别和年级差异;SCL-90的评定结果存在时段和地域差异,持续时间和强度是该量表使用和结果解释的关键。     

大学生幽默风格与精神健康关系的初步研究

目的:测试幽默风格量表在中国大学生中的信度和效度,探讨幽默风格与精神健康之间的关系。方法:354名大学生接受幽默风格量表和症状自评量表(SCL-90)的问卷调查,4周后74名大学生重新填写幽默风格量表。结果:幽默风格量表所提出的4个因子结构在中国人的样本中也存在,该量表的信度和效度可接受。中国被试在4个子量表的得分均低于加拿大被试的得分。亲和型幽默、自强型幽默得分与症状自评量表的子量表以及总体症状指数得分全部呈现负相关,而嘲讽型幽默和自贬型幽默得分与症状自评量表的子量表以及总体症状指数得分全部呈现正相关。结论:(1)该量表的初步测试效度和信度可接受,但须结合中国文化作进一步的修订;(2)亲和型和自强型幽默有益于精神健康,但嘲讽型和自贬型幽默有害于精神健康;(3)中国人与加拿大人在幽默风格、幽默对精神健康起作用的方式上存在一定的文化差异。     

1996至2016年中国老年人心理健康变迁的横断历史研究

为探究中国老年人心理健康水平随年代的变迁,运用横断历史研究方法对1996至2016年间160篇采用90项症状自评量表（SCL-90）的研究报告进行元分析。研究发现：（1）SCL-90各因子与年代均呈显著正相关,说明我国老年人心理健康水平在逐年下降。（2）SCL-90各因子与3项社会指标（离婚率、死亡率和犯罪率）有显著正相关。（3）不同性别老年人的心理健康水平均呈逐年下降趋势,但心理健康水平得分的性别差异并不显著。（4）城市老年人的心理健康水平呈逐年下降的趋势,而农村老年人的心理健康水平则呈逐年上升趋势。     

1996至2016年中国老年人心理健康变迁的横断历史研究

为探究中国老年人心理健康水平随年代的变迁,运用横断历史研究方法对1996至2016年间160篇采用90项症状自评量表（SCL-90）的研究报告进行元分析。研究发现：（1）SCL-90各因子与年代均呈显著正相关,说明我国老年人心理健康水平在逐年下降。（2）SCL-90各因子与3项社会指标（离婚率、死亡率和犯罪率）有显著正相关。（3）不同性别老年人的心理健康水平均呈逐年下降趋势,但心理健康水平得分的性别差异并不显著。（4）城市老年人的心理健康水平呈逐年下降的趋势,而农村老年人的心理健康水平则呈逐年上升趋势。     

Deconstructing therapy outcome measurement with Rasch analysis of a measure of general clinical distress: the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised

Rasch analysis was used to illustrate the usefulness of item-level analyses for evaluating a common therapy outcome measure of general clinical distress, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R; Derogatis, 1994). Using complementary therapy research samples, the instrument's 5-point rating scale was found to exceed clients' ability to make reliable discriminations and could be improved by collapsing it into a 3-point version (combining scale points 1 with 2 and 3 with 4). This revision, in addition to removing 3 misfitting items, increased person separation from 4.90 to 5.07 and item separation from 7.76 to 8.52 (resulting in alphas of .96 and .99, respectively). Some SCL-90-R subscales had low internal consistency reliabilities; SCL-90-R items can be used to define one factor of general clinical distress that is generally stable across both samples, with two small residual factors.