A comparison of the CONOR Mental Health Index to the HSCL-10 and HADS: Measuring mental health status in The Oslo Health Study and the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Anne Johanne Søgaard M.Fl

doi:10.5324/nje.v13i2.296

Abstract

Highlights

A considerable number of questionnaires and instruments have been developed in order to measure mental distress in populations [1]
To compare mental distress measured by CONORMHI and Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL)-10 we used data from the Oslo Health Study [6,7], a population-based survey conducted in 2000/2001 inviting all inhabitants of Oslo aged 30, 40, 45, 59-60 and 75-76 years
Calculating internal consistency resulted in Cronbach alpha=0.81 for Cohort Norway (CONOR)-MHI, but the factor analyses with all the seven questions gave two factors with eigenvalues above 1

Summary

Introduction

A considerable number of questionnaires and instruments have been developed in order to measure mental distress in populations [1]. In all participants mental distress is measured by a seven single item question, the CONOR Mental Health Index (CONOR-MHI), modified after various mental health measurement instruments. The purpose of the present study was to examine the agreement between the CONOR-MHI and two previously validated instruments; namely the 10item version of the Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL-10) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The purpose of the present study was to examine the agreement between these questions – called the CONOR Mental Health Index (CONOR-MHI), and two previously validated instruments; namely the Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL-10) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Different cut-off values for the CONOR-MHI were computed, based on prevalence estimates for depression/ anxiety measured by HADS (cut-off ≥ 8) and mental distress measured by HSCL-10 (cut-off ≥ 1.85). Conclusion: We suggest that the CONOR Mental Health Index composed of the seven questions on mental distress in CONOR, is a valuable and valid tool in epidemiological research

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion