WHAT DOES THE BRIEF-SYMPTOM-INVENTORY MEASURE IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COUNSELING-CENTER CLIENTS

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) with a college and university counseling center popula tion. Specifically, 2,078 clients from 31 counseling centers completed the BSI at intake. An exploratory factor analysis conducted on half t he sample yielded a 6-factor solution rather than the 9-factor solutio n proposed by L. R. Derogatis (1993) or the 1-factor solution identifi ed in previous research. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis con ducted on the remainder of the sample revealed support for the 6-facto r model. Implications for using the BSI with counseling center clients , normative data based on client sex, and recommendations for further instrument development are discussed.