Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2018

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Experimental Psychology

Committee Chair

Susan Lonborg

Second Committee Member

Terrence J. Schwartz

Third Committee Member

Kara Gabriel

Fourth Committee Member

Joshua Buchanan

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are common, often comorbid, mental disorders. Many researchers have developed efficient self- and clinician-report measures of depression and anxiety. Most of these existing measures of depression and anxiety measures yield overall or specific subscale scores. The Clark and Becker Scale of Symptomatology (CBS) was designed to measure individual symptoms of depression and anxiety. It utilizes a different type of bipolar scaling to aid in accurate symptom endorsement. Unlike other pre-existing measures, the CBS is designed to be interpreted at the symptom level. The CBS was administered to a nationally representative sample (n = 530). Concurrent validity of the CBS was supported through correlations with the IDAS-II subscales. The CBS analyzed with item response theory. The depression and anxiety symptoms yielded high test and item information values which is indicative of high reliability. The Cronbach’s alphas for the CBS depression and anxiety symptoms were sufficient for research purposes (α = 0.883 and α = 0.909 respectively). The CBS is a valid and reliable measure of depression and anxiety.

Language

English

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