Development and evaluation of a 21-item version of the hopkins symptom checklist with New Zealand and united states respondents

Abstract

The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) is a widely used measure of symptom distress and in particular is a valuable criterion measure in psychotherapeutic drug trials. Its reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change have been well established. However, its factor structure has been subject to much debate. In previous studies a wide range of different factor structum have been found by various researchers. The aim of the present study was to produce a short, less arduous, but acceptably reliable version of HSCL with a replifablc factor structure. The factor structure which was based on a previously described. robust thm-factor version of the HSCL, was established usinga two-step process which began with a two-factor analysis ofthe largest subscales. General Feclings of Dislrss (GFD) and Somatic Distress (SD). This was followed by a three-fastor analysis of xven items from each of three subscales. The robustness of the factor structure of the resultin scale w a revealed by the factor comparison procedure FACTOREP using the responses ofthe three subject groups. Consistent replications were obtained for the two-factor structure of the GFD and S D items. and for the threc-factor structure of the xven GFD. seven SD, and xven Performance Difficuhy (PD) items. The outcome was a 21-item version of the HSCL with excellent psychometric properties, which was subsquently confirmed using a fourth independent group of subjects.The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) is a self-report symptom rating inventory consisting of 58 items which was developed primarily as a criterion measure in psychotherapeutic drug trials. It has been found by researchers in the United States to be both a reliable and valid psychoIogical instrument for the measurement of neurotic symptoms (Derogatis, Lipman, Rickels, Uhlenhuth, & Covi.

Social‐cognitive determinants of help‐seeking for mental health problems among prison inmates

“…The former were similar to those found in prior prison studies (e.g. Deane et al, 1999, M = 39.48), higher than university students (M = 34.08, Deane and Chamberlain, 1994) and a female nursing sample (M = 35.58, Green et al, 1988) but lower than a psychiatric outpatient sample (M = 44.32, Deane et al, 1992). The SIQ-4 (Reynolds, 1988;Pinto et al, 1997) was positively skewed.…”

“…The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-21 (HSCL-21, Green et al, 1988) is a 21-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (Derogatis et al, 1974) and assesses current emotional distress. Respondents rate each item (e.g.…”

Predictors of Attitudes Toward Seeking Counseling Among International Students

“…Green, Walkey, McCormick, and Taylor (1988) developed a 21-item version of the original 58-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSC) that measures psychological distress (Derogatis, Lipman, Rickels, Uhlenhuth, & Covi, 1974). Respondents rate how severely they have experienced each of the symptoms during the past 7 days, using a scale of 1 (notat all) to 4 (extreme(y).…”

“…The 21 -item version has been reported to have psychometric properties equivalent to the orignal version. Green et al (1988) reported the corrected split-half reliability of .91 and the alpha coefficient of .90 for the abbreviated version. The instrument has been found to have equivalent validity with European American, &can American, and Latino college students through confirmatory factor analysis (Cepeda-Benito & Gleaves, 2000).…”

Personality as a potential moderator of the relationship between stigma and help-seeking

“…According to Deane, Leathem, & Spicer (1992), the HSCL-21 has been shown to be related to counseling outcome measures and can detect changes across therapy. Green et al (1988), indicated the full scale HSCL-21 has a high level of internal consistency with a split-half reliability coefficient of .91 and an internal consistency alpha of .90. The current sample's internal consistency coefficient alpha was .92.…”