Although the SCL-90 and other self-report measures of anxiety and depression have long been criticized for inadequate factor structure and unacceptably high correlations with each other, recent evidence indicates the use of homogeneous samples results in greatly improved discriminant validity. This study utilized homogeneous samples of anxious (N = 54) or depressed (N = 120) outpatients and a factor analysis was conducted on their responses to the depression and anxiety items on the SCL-90. Clearly separate factors for anxiety and depression emerged. Results are discussed with respect to implication for measures of depression and anxiety.
American Psychiatric Association
. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
Beck, A. T.
(1978). Depression Inventory. Philadelphia, PA: Center for Cognitive Therapy.
3.
Brophy, C. J.
, Norvell, N. K., & Kiluk, D. J. (1988). An examination of the factor structure and convergent and discriminant validity of the SCL-90-R in an outpatient clinic population.Journal of Personality Assessment, 52, 334-340.
4.
Clark, A.
, & Friedman, M. J. (1983). Factor structure and discriminant validity of the SCL-90 in a veteran psychiatric population. Journal of Personality Assessment, 47, 396-404.
5.
Clark, L. A.
, & Watson, D. (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 316-336.
6.
Cox, B. J.
, Swinson, R. P., Kuch, K., & Reichman, J. T. (1993). Self-report differentiation of anxiety and depression in an anxiety disorders sample. Psychological Assessment, 5, 484-486.
7.
Cyr, J. J.
, McKenna-Foley, J. M., & Peacock, E. (1985). Factor structure of the SCL-90-R: Is there one?Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 571-578.
8.
Derogatis, L. R.
(1992). SCL-90-R administration, scoring, and procedures manual-II. Towson, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research.
9.
Derogatis, L. R.
, Lipman, R. S., & Covi, L. (1973). SCL-90: An outpatient psychiatric rating scale. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 9, 13-27.
10.
Dobson, K. S.
(1985). The relationship between anxiety and depression. Clinical Psychology Review, 5, 307-324.
11.
Endler, N. S.
, Cox, B. J., Parker, J. D. A., & Bagby, R. M. (1992). Self-reports of depression and state-trait anxiety: Evidence for differential assessment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 832-838.
12.
Feldman, L. A.
(1993). Distinguishing depression and anxiety in self-report: Evidence from confirmatory factor analysis on nonclinical and clinical samples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 631-638.
13.
Gotlib, I. H.
, & Cane, D. B. (1989). Self-report assessment of depression and anxiety. In D. Watson & P. C. Kendall (Eds.), Anxiety and depression (pp. 131-169). New York: Academic Press.
14.
Hamilton, M.
(1959). The assessment of anxiety states by rating. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 32, 50-55.
15.
Hamilton, M.
(1967). Development of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 6, 278-296.
16.
Riskind, J. H.
, Beck, A. T., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1987). Taking the measure of anxiety and depression: Validity of the reconstructed Hamilton Scales. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175, 474-479.
17.
Spielberger, C. D.
(1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
18.
Steer, R. A.
, Clark, D. A., & Ranieri, W. F. (1994). Symptom dimensions of the SCL-90-R: A test of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression. Journal of Personality Assessment, 62, 525-536.
19.
Watson, D.
, & Kendall, P. C. (1989). Common and differentiating features of anxiety and depression: Current findings and future directions. In D. Watson & P. C. Kendall (Eds.), Anxiety and depression (pp. 493-508). New York: Academic Press.
20.
Watson, D.
, Weber, K., Assenheimer, J. S., Clark, L. A., Strauss, M. E., & McCormick, R. A. (1995). Testing a tripartite model: Evaluating the convergent and discriminant validity of anxiety and depression symptom scales. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 104, 3-14.
