A validation study of the Whitely Index, the Illness Attitude Scales, and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale in general medical and general practice patients

Speckens, Anne E.M.; Spinhoven, Philip; Sloekers, Peter P.A.; Bolk, Jan H.; van Hemert, Albert M.

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(95)00561-7

Cited by 303Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychometric Methodologies and Testing

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A validation study of the Whitely Index, the Illness Attitude Scales, and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale in general medical and general practice patients

Speckens, Anne E.M., Spinhoven, Philip, Sloekers, Peter P.A., Bolk, Jan H., van Hemert, Albert M.·1996·Journal of Psychosomatic Research

DOI 10.1016/0022-3999(95)00561-7

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Whitely Index (WI), the Illness Attitude Scales (IAS), and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS). The study population consisted of 130 general medical outpatients, 113 general practice patients, and 204 subjects from the general population. The factorial structure of the IAS appeared to consist of two subscales, namely Health Anxiety and Illness Behaviour. The internal consistency and stability of the three questionnaires were satisfactory, and their scores were highly intercorrelated. Scores on the WI and Health Anxiety subscale of the IAS declined significantly from general medical outpatients, through general practice patients to subjects from the general population. This might imply that medical care utilisation is related to hypochondriasis. A prospective study is needed to determine whether health anxiety contributes to the decision to seek medical care or the consultation of a general practitioner or consultant gives rise to worry about possible illness.

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All three measures have been psychometrically validated and shown good reliability.
“All three measures have been psychometrically validated and shown good reliability [66, 67].”
From Illness Anxiety Disorder: A Review of the Current Research and Future Directions (2024) · cites this paper as [67]

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“The SSAS demonstrates adequate validity and reliability, with an internal consistency of 0.82, test–retest reliability (~74 days) of 0.79 (Barsky et al., 1990) and good discriminant validity (Speckens et al., 1996).”
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Detection of illness worry in the general population: A specific item on illness rumination improves the Whiteley Index
Carstensen, T. B. W., Ørnbøl, E., Fink, P., Pedersen, M. M., Jørgensen, T., Dantoft, T. M., Benros, M. E., & Frostholm, L. (2020) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110245 · Cited by 51

Authors: Speckens, A. E. M., Spinhoven, P., Sloekers, P. P. A., Bolk, J. H., & van Hemert, A. M.
Affiliations: Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
Corresponding author: Speckens, Anne E.M.
ORCID: Speckens, Anne E.M.
Spinhoven, Philip
Venue: Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1996-01
Volume: 40
Issue: 1
Pages: 95-104
ISSN: 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0022-3999(95)00561-7
OpenAlex: W2028552158
Cited by: 303
References: 15
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 5.26
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords: health anxiety, illness behavior, questionnaire validation, reliability statistics, general practice patients, psychosomatic symptoms
MeSH terms: Adult, Attitude to Health, Family Practice, Female, Health Services, Humans, Hypochondriasis, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies

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A validation study of the Whitely Index, the Illness Attitude Scales, and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale in general medical and general practice patients

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