A Re-Evaluation of the Utility of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised for Measuring the Spectra in the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology

Abstract

The present study examines the potential of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) as a measure for the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTop) model. Two structural models were evaluated. In Model 1, the SCL-90-R dimensions were allocated to somatoform (comprising somatization), internalizing (comprising obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and phobic anxiety), and antagonistic disinhibited (comprising hostility) spectra. Model 2 included an additional detachment spectrum (comprising paranoid ideation and psychoticism). Method: A total of 1594 adolescents [52.2% boys; age ranged from 14 to 17 years; mean age (SD) = 16.04 years (0.737 years)] from the general community in Athens completed the SCL-90-R and the Funf-Faktoren-Fragebogen fur Kinder (FFFK). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the proposed models. Results: The findings supported Model 1, demonstrating adequate global fit, salient and significant factor loadings, discriminant validity, reliability, and external validity of the factors. Conclusions: These results indicate that the SCL-90-R scales of somatization, obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobic anxiety are appropriate measures for the corresponding HiTop dimensions. However, the scales for paranoid ideation and psychoticism were not suitable for this purpose. The theoretical contributions and conclusions are discussed, highlighting the implications of these findings for the clinical and theoretical application of the SCL-90-R in psychopathological assessment and research.