The development of a 29-item self-report inventory to screen for non-adaptiveness with an episode or a history of major mental disorder in the army is described. Initially, a 58-item inventory was constructed. However, through a pilot study 46 items remained. The reliability and validity test of the 46-item inventory was then carried out on 357patients and 126 controls. Firstly, item analyses were performed which showed 12 items that distinguished between schizophrenic patients and controls, 9 items that distinguished between depressive patients and controls and 8 items that distinguished between manic patients and controls. A final 29-item inventory was found to have satisfactory reliability, sensitivity and specificity. The analyses of the best cut-off scores using the receiver-operating-characteristic curve suggested a score of 3 for the Schizophrenia Scale, 2 for the Depression Scale, and 3 for the Mania Scale. The inventory can be completed in about 5 to 10 minutes and has a simple method of scoring. The use of this screening inventory in the army is discussed.
This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.
The author(s) declare there are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
