Content validity of the Psychiatric Symptom Index, CES-depression Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory from the perspective of DSM-IV

A Okun, REK Stein, LJ Bauman… - Psychological …, 1996 - journals.sagepub.com
Psychological reports, 1996journals.sagepub.com
We compared the item content of three commonly used scales of psychiatric symptoms [the
broad-band Psychiatric Symptom Index (Ilfeld) and two narrow-band scales, the Center for
Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (Radloff) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
(Spielberger)], with diagnostic criteria and criterion-based symptoms for Major Depressive
Episode and Generalized Anxiety Disorder as they appeared in DSM-IV. The Psychiatric
Symptom Index and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale each …
We compared the item content of three commonly used scales of psychiatric symptoms [the broad-band Psychiatric Symptom Index (Ilfeld) and two narrow-band scales, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (Radloff) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger)], with diagnostic criteria and criterion-based symptoms for Major Depressive Episode and Generalized Anxiety Disorder as they appeared in DSM-IV. The Psychiatric Symptom Index and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale each measured 7 of 9 criterion-based symptoms of Major Depressive Episode. The Psychiatric Symptom Index and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory each measured 5 of 8 domains for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The Psychiatric Symptom Index had comparable content validity to the narrow-band measures. All met a majority of DSM-IV criteria for depression and anxiety, supporting their applicability for current research.
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