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The MCMI-III personality disorder scales were empirically validated with a sample of 870 clinical patients and inmates. Prevalence rates of personality disorders were in general lower on the MCMI-III than clinical ratings, but trait prevalence was generally higher; thus a base rate of 75 on the MCMI-III could be a guideline in the screening of trait prevalence. However, the sensitivity of some MCMI-III scales was very low. Moreover, the correlations of most personality disorder scales of the MCMI-III were significant and positive with corresponding measures on clinical ratings and MMPI-2 personality disorder scales, but these were, in general, not significantly higher than some other correlations. As a consequence the discriminant validity seems to be questionable. The MCMI-III alone cannot be used as a diagnostic inventory, but the test could be useful as a screening device as a part of a multimethod approach that allows aggregation over measures in making diagnostic decisions.

A new self-report scale, the Altruism Scale for Adults, of 28 items was developed. 14 items were from the Altruism subscale of Wrightsman's Philosophies of Human Nature Scale, and the other 14 items were newly constructed. The scale, anchored by 1: true or 2: false, was administered to 592 Korean men and women in eight subgroups. Cronbach alpha internal consistency was .89, and test-retest reliabilities (n = 52) over 1 and 5 wk. were .90 and .80, respectively. Campbell and Fiske's 1959 multitrait-multimethod analysis showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validities. Overall results were promising for use of the scale in research and for practical purposes.

To explore applicability of the Satisfaction With Life Scale in a different racial and cultural context (South Africa), a questionnaire containing items on basic demographic characteristics, the 5-item Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the 10-item Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, was administered to a small convenient sample of 34 Black (13 men and 21 women) and 20 White (9 men and 11 women) South Africans aged between 17 and 70 years. As expected, Black respondents were less likely to have completed high school than White respondents and were more likely to be unemployed. Factor analysis of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (coefficient alpha of .92) yielded a single factor, accounting for 76% of the variance. Mean differences of the two groups were not significant when education and employment status were controlled. As anticipated, Life Satisfaction scores were correlated .86 with rated Self-esteem. Given the very small convenient sample, results are consistent with robust findings in western countries and encourage replication on a larger, representative sample.

This paper reports on the inter-rater reliability of the Report Form for Aggressive Episodes (REFA). This rating scale is designed to measure displayed aggressive behavior and its situational determinant(s) according to a list of 30 potential precipitants of aggression. Findings from this study, where 48 raters assessed 10 clinical vignettes each by means of the REFA, show high levels of inter-rater agreement and reliability. Results also indicate that REFA items are homogenous in terms of how raters respond to them.

A study was conducted to characterize the development of a novel clinical instrument utilized in the evaluation of adult criminal defendants' ability to proceed to adjudication. Called the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication, the instrument underwent a validation study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. Results indicated that the instrument supports good interrater reliability and internal consistency.

The Social Phobia Scale (SPS), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) and the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) were compared to each other and evaluated in patients with social phobia. We examined the relationship of these three contemporary social phobia verbal report instruments with each other, as well as with behavioral and self-report cognitive criteria. As expected, the three social phobia scales were significantly intercorrelated, although they differed in their relationship to the behavioral and cognitive measures. Specifically, the SPS had a significant negative relationship with time spent in a speech behavioral assessment test. The higher the anxiety scores were on the SPS, the less time patients spent giving an impromptu speech in front of a small audience. The SIAS was consistently related to negative and positive self-reported thoughts in speech and conversation behavioral assessment tests. All instruments differentiated patients with speech phobia from those having both generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder; only the SPAI and the SIAS, however, distinguished the former group from individuals with generalized social phobia but no without avoidant personality disorder. All three social phobia instruments were sensitive to treatment changes. Results are discussed in terms of the relative utility of each of these measures' total scores and any and their subscales.

Cancer patients experience both fatigue and depression while undergoing treatment for their disease. A number of authors have conceptualized such depression among this populations as secondary to fatigue. This study of 54 patients was done to test the concurrent validity of two inventories. Scores on the five subscales of the 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory were correlated with those on the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. Moderate correlations are reported and the potential usefulness of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is discussed.

This study examines the psychometric properties of the Vanderbilt AD/HD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS) and provides preliminary normative data from a large, geographically defined population. The VADTRS consists of the complete list of DSM-IV AD/HD symptoms, a screen for other disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety and depression, and ratings of academic and classroom behavior performance. Teachers in one suburban county completed the scale for their students during 2 consecutive years. Statistical methods included (a) exploratory and confirmatory latent variable analyses of item data, (b) evaluation of the internal consistency of the latent dimensions, (c) evaluation of latent structure concordance between school year samples, and (d) preliminary evaluation of criterion-related validity. The instrument comprises four behavioral dimensions and two performance dimensions. The behavioral dimensions were concordant between school years and were consistent with a priori DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Correlations between latent dimensions and relevant, known disorders or problems varied from .25 to .66. KEY WORDS: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Teacher Behavior Rating Scales; latent variable analysis.

With a sample of 332 employed adults we tested the factor structure of a 29-item scale proposed by Davis in 1987 to measure seven factors. While Davis's work did not support that structure, with the use of confirmatory factor analysis we found support for a seven-factor structure over that of a six-factor structure.

To determine the usefulness of the MAACL-R6 (sixth grade reading level version of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised), its characteristics were studied in an adult clinical sample. As with the rescored samples, acceptable reliability and validity with this clinical sample was found. Also, the MAACL-R rescored on the sixth grade adjectives was equivalent in reliability and validity to the MAACL-R6 in this clinical sample, indicating that there was no context effect produced by being imbedded in the larger list of adjectives.

The reliability (internal consistency and alternate form) of the trait version of the Positive and Negative Mood Scales in referred samples was found to be high, and the concurrent and discriminate validity was found to be moderate. As expected, means of the Positive Mood Scales were significantly higher in nonreferred samples and means of the Negative Mood Scales were significantly higher in referred samples. The alternate forms for each scale were equivalent. The Positive and Negative Mood Scales seem to be ready for use in research.

Several validity studies for a seven subtest WAIS-R short form have been conducted with patients from different populations as participants. All of these studies demonstrated high correlations between the short form IQ estimates and the actual VIQs, PIQs, and FSIQs (i.e., .90 to .98). In general, there also were small mean differences in the short form versus actual IQs across samples. There currently are two computational formulas for the seven subtest short form. The original weighted formula and a revised proration formula. This study investigated the accuracy of the two short form computational formulas in samples of patients with brain impairment. It was found that the two formulas produced nearly identical results from both statistical and clinical perspectives. Given that the formulas produce nearly identical results and the majority of published studies with this short form have used the weighted formula, we recommend that future investigators use the original weighted formula to maintain clinical and scientific consistency.

The authors compared college students identified by high scores on the Magical Ideation Scale (M. Eckblad & L. J. Chapman, 1983) and the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale (MagSoc; n = 28; M. Eckblad, L. J. Chapman, J. P. Chapman, & M. Mishlove, 1982) with control participants (n = 20) at a 10-year follow-up assessment in an attempt to replicate L. J. Chapman, J. P. Chapman, T. R. Kwapil, M. Eckblad, and M. C. Zinser's (1994) report of heightened psychosis proneness in MagSoc individuals. The MagSoc group exceeded the control group on severity of psychotic-like experiences; ratings of schizotypal, paranoid, and borderline personality disorder symptoms; and rates of mood and substance use disorders. Two of the MagSoc participants but none of the control participants developed psychosis during the follow-up period (a nonsignificant difference). Consistent with L. J. Chapman et al.'s findings, the groups did not differ on rates of personality disorders or relatives with psychosis.

This article addresses intercultural tolerance, the need to measure that construct, and the development of a new diagnostic inventory, the Intercultural Tolerance Scale. Issues discussed include background, development, and preliminary test reliabilities and validities.

The William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute Psychological Trauma and Psychological Resources Scales is a preliminary measure for the assessment of psychological trauma and psychological health from a developmental perspective. This three-part article (1) discusses the various rationales leading to the development of the scales, (2) provides a factor-analysis of responses of 336 college students, and (3) addresses current (N = 37) and planned efforts to establish reliability and validity of a more refined version.

Our purposes are to explore the generalizability of the Modern Sexism Scale [J. T. Swim et al. (1995) 'Sexual and Racism: Old-Fashioned and Modern Prejudices,' Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 68, pp. 199-214] beyond mostly white, traditionally aged undergraduates and to extend analyses of its construct validity. Fourteen African American and 32 white women firefighters nationwide, having previously completed an extensive mail survey, were followed up with the Modern Sexism Scale. A four-factor solution, low inter-item correlations, and a low coefficient alpha argue against combining the 8-items of the scale. Racial differences on one item and in response variances as well as correlations with age, years of service, and education caution against handily overgeneralizing scale usage beyond students. Coherent patterns of interrelationships among Modern Sexism items and other personality, attitudinal, work experiential, and gender identity scales suggest strong convergent validity.

This paper presents a scale to measure the professional self-esteem of physicians. It describes the scale's theoretical basis, psychometric properties, and its value for explaining physicians' well-being. Statistical analyses, conducted on data from two independent studies of physicians in Israel (ns = 214 and 122), indicate internal consistency and construct validity of the scale. Scores on professional self-esteem are associated positively with life satisfaction and work satisfaction and negatively with burnout. Scores also correlate significantly with global self-esteem and with anxiety. The professional self-esteem scale appears to be a useful tool for explaining professionals' work performance, work-related well-being, and general well-being.

The psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) were evaluated in two studies using large clinical samples (N = 437 and N = 241). In Study 1, the three scales comprising the DASS were shown to have excellent internal consistency and temporal stability. An exploratory factor analysis (principal components extraction with varimax rotation) yielded a solution that was highly consistent with the factor structure previously found in nonclinical samples. Between-groups comparisons indicated that the DASS distinguished various anxiety and mood disorder groups in the predicted direction. In Study 2, the conceptual and empirical latent structure of the DASS was upheld by findings from confirmatory factor analysis. Correlations between the DASS and other questionnaire and clinical rating measures of anxiety, depression, and negative affect demonstrated the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales. In addition to supporting the psychometric properties of the DASS in clinical anxiety and mood disorders samples, the results are discussed in the context of current conceptualizations of the distinctive and overlapping features of anxiety and depression.

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.

We investigated the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the 26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in a Japanese culture, testing a sample of 1,008. The validity and reliability of this Japanese version were suggested by significant correlations with the Beth Israel Hospital Psychosomatic Questionnaire and estimates to test-retest and internal consistency. These results suggest that this version may be suitable for Japanese populations. Although alexithymia scores were correlated negatively with increasing age, the result, based on the large sample, seems to be of minimal significance.

A research review shows that the Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) scale possesses good construct validity and interrater reliability. ROD provides a measure of interpersonal dependency and is useful in determining the overt dependent behavior in children, adolescents, and adults. The scale can predict dependency-related behavior in a variety of participant groups. However, the scale does not have sufficient retest reliability over time.

The Family Problem-Solving Task (FPST) and its coding system is a reliable and valid means to determine the effect of treatment on communication and problem solving in schizophrenics' families. The FPST procedure has a high test-retest reliability from baseline through two-year assessments. Data confirm the construct validity of the coding system. The FPST dyadic interaction procedure is a feasible and appropriate method for producing temporally stable and externally valid changes in behavior patterns.

Exploratory item analyses, confirmatory oblique item clustering, and second order factor analysis confirm the concurrent and predictive validity of the hypothesized scales for the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). A study conducted on 990 methadone maintenance substance abuse patients shows that the transformed ASI scales retain a substantial amount of unique and reliable variance. The scales are comparatively independent and have little common variance. ASI has potential utility in clinical work and research.

The Cognitive Rating Form (CRF) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing self-generated cognitions in sentence completion tasks such as the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank. CRF shows adequate interrater agreement and internal consistency. Factor analysis of CRF factors shows that Negative Cognitions can discriminate between adolescent psychiatric inpatient and high school students. CRF gives concurrently valid measures of depression, hopelessness, self-esteem, and depressive-anxious thoughts.

A personality assessment scale, Outlook on Life Scale, identifies the attitudes of adolescents and children towards life. Scales of View of Parents, View of Adults and View of Self correlate positively with emotional status. Results show that subjects' positive views of their parents, adults, and their own life correlates with a positive attitude toward life. Youngsters are more prone towards a fixed orientation to life, which can have a lasting impact on future development.

This study is the first empirical investigation of the 1964 Tversky condition applied to rating scales. The Tversky condition posits that the 3-response format will be optimum if testing time is proportional to the length of the test. To this end, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-response category forms of a 10-item measure of attitudes in science were randomly administered to 241 third grade students. Reliability and validity were computed for each form. No significant differences were found among the reliability coefficients or among the validity coefficients. The Tversky condition was not confirmed for rating scales. These findings are consistent with results from other studies regarding the lack of substantial differences among reliability and validity coefficients as the number of response categories in a rating scale are varied.

Nurses' ratings of the social behavior of hospitalized male forensic psychiatric patients using a chart of interpersonal reactions in closed living environments (CIRCLE), reflects a circular arrangement. The interpersonal circle is thus seen as a structural model of interpersonal behavior. The scales constructed meet the geometric requirements of the circumplex structure of interpersonal styles. CIRCLE scales may promote risk assessment, treatment planning, and evaluating personality disorders in forensic psychiatric patients.

In a study of preconditions of responsiveness, we examined the variances obtained by two different ways of responding to questionnaire items. Subjects were 168 first-year medical students. They all completed a questionnaire of nine items. The original Likert-like scoring was (partially) replaced by visual analogue scoring in three quarters of the questionnaires. For three items the analogue form had a significantly greater variance than the discrete form, but no discrete item had a significantly greater variance than its analogue counterpart. Assuming that a greater variance was indicative for a greater responsiveness, our findings provide some support for the preferred use of analogue scales over discrete response categories in the measurement of changes over time.

The four-factor model of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale is tested on a population of older Australians to determine its cross-cultural applicability. The influence of age and other demographic variables on each individual factor is also examined. Finally, the results of the Australian testing are compared with those of American, Canadian and Japanese studies to assess the varied cultural responses to the CES-D scale.

This paper contains a description of a scale to measure cognitive flexibility. In Study 1, 247 participants completed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, the Communication Flexibility Scale, and the Rigidity of Attitudes Regarding Personal Habits Scale. In Study 2, 275 participants completed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, the Interaction Involvement Scale, the Self-monitoring Scale, and the Unwillingness to Communicate Scale. Analysis showed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale to be internally reliable and supported its construct and concurrent validity.

The proposal made by Randall M. Jones, James F. Akers and Joseph M. White to revise the original classification criteria associated with the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status by introducing a 0.5 standard deviation cutoff criteria is appropriate for maximizing the number of 'pure' identity status classifications. However, their measures should be adopted with caution because of its questionable construct validity and its lack of impetus on identity development.

A study of the validity of the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency scale (MAST) in a sample of 215 adolescents showed that MAST is an efficient method of estimating the degree of psychopathology and suicidal tendency in adolescents. The four-factor structure of the scale validated by the analysis included the attraction and repulsion of life and death. Correlational analyses supported the consistency of MAST subscales especially in issues such as hopelessness, suicidal ideation and negative self-evaluation.

Standard five-point rating scales often do not allow raters to capture perceived differences between objects or individuals within a relatively narrow band of the evaluative dimension. In the frequency domain, using a longer rating scale or packing the rating scale with labels from a particular portion of the dimension of interest have both been shown by Hancock and Klockars in 1991 to increase rating validity for differentiating among a narrow range of performances. The present study investigates the effect of similar manipulations on the validity of ratings from evaluative rating scales. The correlations of evaluative ratings with experimentally manipulated (and hence known) performance tended to be fairly high regardless of the evaluative scale used., An analysis of the impact of modifications, believed to enhance the validity of rating for differentiation among narrow range of performances, revealed that the correlations of ratings with experimentally altered performance appeared to be high. Earlier experiments were similarly modified by using a larger scale of rating. Regular fine-point rating scales were restrictive and limited analysis.

It is argued that researchers' reliance on 'objective' mental health scales and disregard for clinical judgment has led to many mistaken conclusions. Specifically, standard mental health scales appear unable to distinguish between genuine mental health and the facade or illusion of mental health created by psychological defenses. Evidence is presented indicating that (a) many people who look healthy on standard mental health scales are not psychologically healthy, and (b) illusory mental health (based on defensive denial of distress) has physiological costs and may be a risk factor for medical illness. Clinical judges could distinguish genuine from illusory mental health, whereas 'objective' mental health scales could not. The findings call into question the conclusions of many previous studies that rest on standard mental health scales. They suggest new ways of understanding how psychological factors may influence health. Finally, they suggest that clinical methods (which researchers often malign) may have an important role to play in meaningful mental health research.

Indecisiveness is an often mentioned symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder and obsessive compulsive personality disorder, yet very little research has been done examining its nature and measurement. Three studies are presented here which examine the nature of compulsive indecisiveness using a newly developed scale. In study 1 the Indecisiveness Scale was correlated with measures of obsessionality and compulsive checking among normal S s. It was also correlated with the maladaptive evaluative concern dimensions of perfectionism and with compulsive hoarding. In study 2 indecisive S s (as measured by the Indecisiveness Scale) were found to score higher on measures of procrastination and general psychopathology. In addition, they reported problems in making decisions in a variety of life domains (social, academic, family and everyday). In study 3 S s who scored high on the Indecisiveness Scale were found to have longer latencies on an experimental decision-making task. The implications of these findings for the nature of indecisiveness were discussed.

Cognitive-behavioral and self-management perspectives on chronic pain emphasize the central role that patients' appraisals of their pain problems may have in determining aspects of the pain experience. This paper reports the development of a self-report instrument measuring two aspects of patients' appraisals of their pain and its impact on their lives. Two reliable and meaningful scales were derived via factor analysis, and a second sample was submitted to confirmatory factor analysis. Further analyses offered support for the internal consistency and stability of the scales. Pain Intrusion is related to greater depressive symptom severity and pain behaviors reflecting affective distress. Pain Accommodation is related to self-reports of greater self-control, viewing oneself as a problem-solver, fewer depressive symptoms, and fewer pain behaviors reflecting affective distress. This report introduces these constructs and the Chronic Pain Intrusion and Accommodation Scales that measure them, and discusses their theoretical and clinical relevance.

A total of 37 depressed inpatients were divided according to the endogenous vs. non-endogenous dichotomy, using clinical methods (Research Diagnostic Criteria and Newcastle scale), test-psychological method (Rorschach test), and physiological method (dexamethasone suppression test). With the exception of the two clinical scales no significant diagnostic agreement was found between the methods used. The clinical concept of the endogeneity in the depressive illness resists confirmation by nonclinical methods.

Four measures of depression were administered to a normative sample (n = 44) and two psychiatric groups of adolescents n = 40). Measures included the Adolescent Activity Checklist (AAC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Only the BDI and ATQ were able to discriminate among the three populations. The DAS and frequency of unpleasant activity (FRUA) subscales of the AAC only differentiated between nondepressed and depressed psychiatric subjects. Adolescent behavioral activity related to depression differed from adults with only mixed support found for cognitive depression among adolescents.

The 49-item MMPI PTSD Subscale, developed and validated with Vietnam combat veterans, was administered to validation and cross-validation samples of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients who had experienced nonmilitary traumatic events and to psychiatric controls (total N = 69). Using a cutting score of 19, derived from the validation sample only, the PTSD subscale correctly classified 87% of all validation subjects and 88% of all cross-validation subjects. Results strongly support the utility of MMPI assessment of PTSD with civilian trauma victims as one component of a broad assessment strategy.

The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale is a widely used although poorly researched measurement of overall mental health or illness. This study investigated construct validity for clients with anxiety disorder. Analysis suggests that current suicidality was the most significant predictor of ratings. Current homicidality, work/school problems, and inability to care for oneself were not significantly correlated with scale ratings.