INTERPRETIVE RISKS - THE USE OF THE HOPKINS-SYMPTOM-CHECKLIST-90-REVISED (SCL-90-R) WITH BRAIN-TUMOR PATIENTS

Patients with brain tumours often report distress. Interpretive proble ms ensue when measures normed on healthy persons are utilized to quant ify distress. This study investigated potentially spurious elevations on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL 90-R). Responses of 1 7 patients were obtained prior to aggressive chemotherapy. Traditional interpretation indicated that 47% of the patients endorsed clinical l evels of somatization, 53% obsessive-compulsive and 59% psychotic diso rders. Elevations were attributable to common consequences of brain tu mours, medication and the emotional reaction to prognosis. Conventiona l interpretation would lead to inappropriate classifications. The majo rity of SCL 90-R item endorsements were significantly different than t hose of the norm group. Appropriate interpretation of scores is discus sed.