British outpatient norms for the Brief Symptom Inventory

Background. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) is a popular measure of psychopathology frequently used as an outcome measure, but clinicians and researchers have had to rely on normative data based on US samples which may not be appropriate for the British population. Objectives. The aim was to develop culturally relevant outpatient norms for the BSI that would reflect hypothesized differences between US and UK population in responding to items on the BSI. Method. BSI and demographic data were collected for 378 patients referred to clinical psychology services in the Midlands, England, during routine practice. Results. Significantly higher rates of psychopathology were reported by the UK sample than for the normative group reported in the US. Conclusion. Outpatient normative data for British participants are presented. The study examines the impact of occupational status, age and gender differences on the level of reported distress.