Objective: This article analyzes the psychometric and structural properties of the Brief Symptoms Inventory 18 in a sample of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), given the convenience of a brief evaluation of distress in these patients.
Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out in a sample of 114 patients with TMDs. Two models were tested: the theoretical model with the original structure proposed--which considers three dimensions--and the empirical model obtained through the exploratory factor analysis initially carried out by Leonard R. Derogatis--which consists of the four-factor structure.
Results: Both models reached satisfactory indexes in confirmatory factor analysis. Empirical and theoretical reasons led us to prefer the original proposal of three dimensions: somatization, depression and anxiety, and general distress.
Conclusion: The Brief Symptoms Inventory 18 has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of distress in patients with TMDs, with the advantage of its simplicity and ease of application.