Urdu translation and validation of PHQ-9, a reliable identification, severity and treatment outcome tool for depression.

OBJECTIVE

To translate and validate the self-report brief version of Patient Health Questtionaire-9 in Urdu.

METHODS

The descriptive study was carried out at the Combined Military Hospitals in Gilgit and Lahore, and Pakistan Naval Ship Shifa Hospital in Karachi, from February to May 2016, and comprised of patients recruited from primary healthcare centres of the three cities Standardised procedures including forward-translation, back-translation, expert panel discussion, face validation, pilot testing, and target population validation were done. SPSS 21 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 293 patients, 164(56%) were males and 129(44%) were females. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single factor solution with minimum factor loading being 0.63. Cronbach's alpha for the scale was 0.91 and split-half reliability was 0.77. Females were more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to male participants (p<0.01). Participants' area of dwelling also influenced their reported symptoms (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient Health Questtionaire-9 Urdu scale was found to be a valid and reliable tool to screen, rate and monitor outcomes of depressive illness in primary healthcare settings in Pakistan.