Validity of the GHQ and SCL anxiety and depression scales: a comparative study

J Affect Disord. 1992 Apr;24(4):271-9. doi: 10.1016/0165-0327(92)90112-j.

Abstract

This article presents the results of a comparison between the validity of the SCL anxiety, phobic anxiety and depression scales and the GHQ-28 anxiety-/insomnia and severe depression scales in a psychiatric outpatient population. Validity was studied at a categorical level with DSM-III diagnosis, and at a dimensional level with a prototypical anxiety and a prototypical depression scale. The SCL anxiety and depression scales and the GHQ depression scale all showed good convergent and divergent validity, however the GHQ anxiety/insomnia scale showed neither convergent nor divergent validity. It is concluded that as a screening instrument, the relative shortness of the GHQ-28 is a considerable advantage over the SCL-90. However, the GHQ-12 may be an even better alternative. As a multi dimensional measure of psychopathology, the SCL-90 is to be preferred, because it covers more dimensions. If one is interested in anxiety, the SCL-90 also seems the better choice.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Personality Inventory / standards
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / standards
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Research Design
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires