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BMC Medical Research Methodology
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Psychometric analysis of the brief symptom inventory 18 (BSI-18) in a representative German sample

Authors: Gabriele Helga Franke, Susanne Jaeger, Heide Glaesmer, Claus Barkmann, Katja Petrowski, Elmar Braehler

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

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.

Methods

Based on a representative sample of N = 2516 participants (aged 14–94 years), detailed psychometric analyses were carried out.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.
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Metadata
Title
Psychometric analysis of the brief symptom inventory 18 (BSI-18) in a representative German sample
Authors
Gabriele Helga Franke
Susanne Jaeger
Heide Glaesmer
Claus Barkmann
Katja Petrowski
Elmar Braehler
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-016-0283-3

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