[Validity and reliability of a symptom checklist (FSCL): use in psychogeriatrics]

The incidence of psychogenic (depressive) disturbances in the elderly (greater than or equal to 65 years) is estimated to be 20--64%. In contrast to this, the systematic, exact and broad evaluation of the psychic condition is astonishingly rare in geriatric patients. --The FSCL is a sensitive, reliable, valid and practicable instrument for the quantitative rating of 40 clinical symptoms by the doctor. It is an attendant addition to the specific geriatric scales. The time required to complete the checklist is 2--5 minutes. --The interrater- and intrarater reliability has been analysed for 34 untrained raters previously unfamiliar with the FSCL, using simultaneously video-recorded interviews. The results showed a high homogeneity (reproducibility) resp. correlation (rtt = .58--.95). The sensibility to changes and differences between drugs or against placebo was demonstrated by e.g. double-blind multicenter trials (geriatrics N = 420, depression N = 450, chronic anxiety N = 643). --Concurrent validity has been demonstrated by the good correlation between the percentage improvements in the symptoms and the 4-point overall clinical ratings (r = .81, N = 240). The construct validity has been confirmed by means of factor analysis. Six orthogonal, clinical relevant factors were obtained (item loading greater than or equal to .40) which accounted for 50% of the total variance: anxiety--excitation, inhibition--depression, inhibited social behaviour, disturbed thought process and content, agitation--aggression, auto-aggressive thoughts.