Psychometric properties of the Brief Symptom Inventory in a sample of recovered Iranian depressed patients

The purpose of this instrumental study was to evaluate the Brief Symptom Inventory properties in a sample of recovered depressed patients in Iran. A total of 354 patients were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV Disorders (SCID) to ensure that they had fully recovered from their most recent index episode of depression. This sample completed a series of self-report measures, including the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Descriptive statistics for the BSI are presented, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the fit of the hypothesized factor structure. Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated for the full global severity index and each of its nine subscales to examine the internal reliability of the scale. The fit indexes in the nine factorial model was superior to the unifactorial model, which indicates a match between the proposed nine factorial model and the observed data. Cronbach’s alpha was high for the global severity index as well as for each of the subscales. The Brief Symptom Inventory was validated in this sample, and can be employed as a tool in outcome and process research and practice with this population.