Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38)

Scale Overview & Construct

38-item measure of psychological distress and well-being developed for the Medical Outcomes Study. Most items use a 6-point frequency scale referring to the past month, but several items use alternate response formats (happiness, frequency, nervousness severity, depression severity, suicidal ideation). Yields 5 subscales: Anxiety (9 items), Depression (4 items), Loss of Behavioral/Emotional Control (10 items), General Positive Affect (10 items), and Emotional Ties (5 items). Two composite scores: Psychological Distress and Psychological Well-Being. Scores are item means transformed to 0–100: (mean − 1) / 5 × 100. Higher scores indicate better mental health.

38-Item Scale Likert Self-Report Dimensional Breakdown Server-Side Validated

Purpose & Measurement Objectives

38-item measure of psychological distress and well-being developed for the Medical Outcomes Study. Most items use a 6-point frequency scale referring to the past month, but several items use alternate response formats (happiness, frequency, nervousness severity, depression severity, suicidal ideation). Yields 5 subscales: Anxiety (9 items), Depression (4 items), Loss of Behavioral/Emotional Control (10 items), General Positive Affect (10 items), and Emotional Ties (5 items). Two composite scores: Psychological Distress and Psychological Well-Being. Scores are item means transformed to 0–100: (mean − 1) / 5 × 100. Higher scores indicate better mental health. Based on your answers to its 38 items, you'll get a breakdown across its 5 component areas as well as an overall picture, showing where the pattern is strongest for you. Your result puts a number and a pattern to something you may have only sensed in a general way before.

Instrument Specifications

Target Population

Teachers, Educators & Faculty

Administration Format

Self-Administered

Intended Domain / Purpose

Research & Empirical Study

Recommended Age Bracket

Adults (18+ yrs)

Duration & Pacing

16 Minutes (Self-Paced)

Access License

Open Creative Commons

Scientific Documentation & Psychometric Rigor

Developer / Author

Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E.

Development Year

1983

Theoretical Construct & Framework Measures psychological distress and psychological well-being as related but distinguishable dimensions of mental health.

Internal Consistency & Reliability

Original validation reported high internal consistency for its major subscales.

Construct & Criterion Validity

Developed and validated as part of the RAND Health Insurance Experiment; widely used general-population mental health measure since.

Academic Citations

Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(5), 730-742.

Academic Citation & Instrument Provenance

When referencing this instrument in research, academic theses, or clinical institutional audits, please cite the original author publication:

License: Public Domain (https://www.rand.org/health-care/surveys_tools.html). Citation: Veit, C.T., & Ware, J.E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(5), 730-742. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.51.5.730 This is not a diagnostic tool. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact a licensed mental health professional or a crisis helpline in your country immediately. Low/Moderate/High bands below reflect this test's own possible score range only (simple thirds) — they are NOT a clinical threshold or population norm. No such cutoff has been published for this instrument.

Governance, Boundaries & Ethical Use

Construct Boundaries & Interpretive Limitations

Imported from the OpenScales open item-bank project. This specific digital implementation has not been independently clinically validated by PsiQ — scores are for self-reflection, research, and educational purposes only, and are not a diagnosis.

License: Public Domain (https://www.rand.org/health-care/surveys_tools.html). Citation: Veit, C.T., & Ware, J.E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(5), 730-742. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.51.5.730 This is not a diagnostic tool. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact a licensed mental health professional or a crisis helpline in your country immediately. Low/Moderate/High bands below reflect this test's own possible score range only (simple thirds) — they are NOT a clinical threshold or population norm. No such cutoff has been published for this instrument.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38)?

38-item measure of psychological distress and well-being developed for the Medical Outcomes Study. Most items use a 6-point frequency scale referring to the past month, but several items use alternate response formats (happiness, frequency, nervousness severity, depression severity, suicidal ideation). Yields 5 subscales: Anxiety (9 items), Depression (4 items), Loss of Behavioral/Emotional Contr…

How long does the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38) take?

It takes about 16 minutes to answer all 38 questions. You can go at your own pace.

Is this test free, and is it available in Hindi?

Yes, it is free with a PsiQ account. The questions and answer options are available in English, Hindi and Hinglish.

Can this test diagnose a condition?

No. Online self-report scales are for self-reflection, education and research, not diagnosis. If you are worried about your mental health, please speak to a qualified mental-health professional.