Citation

Ruiz MA, Peters RH, Sanchez GM, Bates JP. Crim. Justice Behav. 2009; 36(6): 607-619.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0093854809334013

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study evaluated the psychometric performance and convergent validity of a screening instrument for mental health disorders, the Mental Health Screening Form III (MHSF-III), among inmates in a large metropolitan jail. The study examined item functioning, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the MHSF-III among 332 inmates enrolled in a jail addiction treatment program.

RESULTS indicated that the items were internally consistent and that the majority had acceptable item-total correlations and endorsement frequencies. The MHSF-III total score was significantly correlated with self-reported trauma history and self-reported mental health symptoms. Most items demonstrated strong convergence with similar constructs measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory (Morey, 2007). The instrument appears to be a promising mental health screen for jail settings. Clinical applications of the MHSF-III and possibilities for redesigning the instrument are discussed.

Language: en