The relative effectiveness of two models for scoring the mid-town psychological disorder index

Two scoring methods, a conditional probability method and the currently used summational method, were tested with a psychiatric case identification instrument, the 22-item Mid-town index. The two methods very similarly classified, as either ill or well, persons in both a patient and a community sample. Although the less costly summational method is preferable for current use with the 22-item index, the conditional probability method appears to have advantages worthy of further research. Possible approaches for improving the conditional probability method for use in case identification are presented.