The Chikungunya anxiety scale (CHIKAS): Development, validation, and relationship between its items and illness-related factors.

Torales, Julio; Barrios, Iván; Estigarribia, Gladys; Sequera, Guillermo; Almirón-Santacruz, José; O'Higgins, Marcelo; Navarro, Rodrigo; Melgarejo, Osvaldo; González-Urbieta, Israel; Caycho-Rodríguez, Tomás; Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio; Ventriglio, Antonio; Bhugra, Dinesh

Torales, Julio; Barrios, Iván; Estigarribia, Gladys; Sequera, Guillermo; Almirón-Santacruz, José; O'Higgins, Marcelo; Navarro, Rodrigo; Melgarejo, Osvaldo; González-Urbieta, Israel; Caycho-Rodríguez, Tomás; Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio; Ventriglio, Antonio; Bhugra, Dinesh.

Affiliation

Torales J; Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo.
Barrios I; Regional Institute for Health Research, National University of Caaguazú, Coronel Oviedo.
Estigarribia G; Scholl of Medical Sciences, Universidad Sudamericana, Pedro Juan Caballero.
Sequera G; Scholl of Medical Sciences, Universidad Sudamericana, Pedro Juan Caballero.
Almirón-Santacruz J; Department of Statistics, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, Santa Rosa del Aguaray Campus, Santa Rosa del Aguaray.
O'Higgins M; Regional Institute for Health Research, National University of Caaguazú, Coronel Oviedo.
Navarro R; Department of Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, Santa Rosa del Aguaray Campus, Santa Rosa del Aguaray.
Melgarejo O; Directorate of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, Asunción, Paraguay.
González-Urbieta I; Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo.
Caycho-Rodríguez T; Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo.
Castaldelli-Maia JM; Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo.
Ventriglio A; Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo.
Bhugra D; North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Ind Psychiatry J ; 32(Suppl 1): S117-S126, 2023 Nov.

Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38370942

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Background:

Paraguay has recently experienced an exponential increase in chikungunya cases, leading to psychological distress, particularly anxiety.

Aim:

To develop and validate the Chikungunya Anxiety Scale (CHIKAS). Materials and

Methods:

An initial scale of 18 items was used, which was subjected to validation by expert judgment to obtain 14 items. To determine construct validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) have been employed, and internal and convergent validity were determined. Demographic, socioeconomic, and health status data were also collected.

Results:

The study included 974 participants. The final scale consisted of 12 items with evidence of a two-factor model (psychological and physical). The internal validity was good (McDonald's omega = 0.882). The CFA showed good adjustment indices. Regarding participant characteristics, a relationship was found between anxiety due to chikungunya and gender, employment, mental diagnosis, medication use, and chikungunya infection.