M. Lindelow et al., DEVELOPMENT OF A SCALE TO MEASURE SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN THE GENERAL UK POPULATION - THE PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM FREQUENCY SCALE, Journal of epidemiology and community health, 51(5), 1997, pp. 549-557
Objectives-The psychiatric symptom frequency (PSF) scale was developed
to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression (ie affective symptoms)
experienced over the past year in the general population This study ai
med to examine the distribution of PSF scores, internal consistency, a
nd factor structure and to investigate relationships between total sco
res for this scale and other indicators of poor mental health. Partici
pants-The Medical Research Council national survey of health and devel
opment, a class stratified cohort study of men and women followed up f
rom birth in 1946, with the most recent interview at age 43 when the P
SF scale was administered. Main results-The PSF scale showed high inte
rnal consistency between the 18 items (Cronbach's alpha=0.88). Ratings
on items of the scale reflected one predominant factor, incorporating
both depression and anxiety, and two additional factors of less stati
stical importance, one reflecting sleep problems and the other panic a
nd situational anxiety. Total scores were calculated by adding 18 item
s of the scale, and high total scores were found to be strongly associ
ated with reports of contact with a doctor or other health professiona
l and use of prescribed medication for ''nervous or emotional trouble
or depression,'' and with suicidal ideas. Conclusions-The PSF is a use
ful and valid scale for evaluating affective symptoms in the general p
opulation. It is appropriate for administration by lay interviewers wi
th minimal training, is relatively brief, and generates few missing da
ta. The total score is a flexible measure which can be used in continu
ous or binary form to suit the purposes of individual investigations,
and provides discrimination at lower as well as upper levels of sympto
m severity.