Brief Symptom Inventory – Youth
The Brief Symptom Inventory is a 53-item self-report symptom inventory designed to reflect the psychological symptom patterns of psychiatric and medical patients and non-patients. This inventory reports profiles of nine primary symptom dimensions and three global indices of distress (Derogatis, 1993).
Abstract: The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) is a 53-item, free standing, self-reporting survey measuring nine symptom dimensions and three global indices of distress. The BSI is most useful in a clinical and research setting where time is the major limiting factor (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983). This measure was added to the Fast Track protocol in year 14 (2004) for cohort 1. The BSI used for the Fast Track Project is a modified 35 item paper survey measuring a total of five indices of distress resulting in a point-in-time measure of the subjects’ states of distress. Responses are provided via zero (not at all) to four (Extremely) on a Likert scale. The 35 items evaluate five symptom dimensions (Somatization, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety and Hostility) and three global indices of distress (PST, PSDI and the Global Severity Index). Each item is scored on a response scale of 0 to 4, where 0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = moderately, 3 = Quite a bit and 4 = Extremely. There are five derived scores and six diagnostics scores for this measure. The five subscales from which the diagnostic scores are derived from are Somatization, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety and Hostility. All of the subscale scores are summary scores converted to diagnostics scores using a standardized t-table. The Brief Symptoms Inventory is appropriate in settings in which time is limited. The BSI is commonly used as a single point in time assessment of an individual’s clinical status. Conversion of the raw scores to standardized t-scores allows for meaningful comparisons across groups and previous tests. Group mean comparisons of standardized t-values enable the researcher to compare psychological states and characteristics which might differ between the normative and control samples. One female subject’s raw scores (in the normative sample) showed the presence of a ceiling effect in the Depression subscale. The subject reported an overall raw scale score of 4.0. The highest possible raw scale score is 3.60.
Who Completed this Measure?: Target Child/Youth (now in adulthood)
Cohort 1 - Administrative History
- Year 14 | age 19
Cohort 2 - Administrative History
- Year 14 | age 19
Cohort 3 - Administrative History
- Year 14 | age 19
Raw Dataset Name: CxBJ
Scored Dataset Name: BSIySCc
Keywords:
Aggression, Anxiety, Emotional Problems, Mood, Physical Health, Physical Problems, Psychosomatic Disorders, Suicide
Is this Measure Available for Public Use?: No
Obtain Measure:
Fast Track obtained permission to use this measure in our study, but we are NOT ALLOWED TO DISTRIBUTE IT. To obtain a copy for your use, contact the source listed below.
Brief Symptoms Inventory
Pearson Assessments
Tel: 800-627-7271 ext. 3225
Email: pearsonassessments@pearson.com
Web: www.pearsonassessments.com