ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: to verify the validity and reliability of the Psychological Distress Scale for screening mental distress. METHODS: a cross-sectional study with 75 elderly people. Psychological Distress scale and Self Reporting Questionnaire were used. Criterion validity was verified using Spearman's correlation and diagnostic accuracy measures. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to investigate reliability. RESULTS: the total internal consistency of the Psychological Distress Scale was α=0.844. Concurrent validity between this instrument and the Self Reporting Questionnaire was ρ=0.722 (p<0.001). The best cut-off point for screening mental distress among elderly people was a total score greater than 14, with sensitivity equal to 75.47% and specificity equal to 85.0%. CONCLUSIONS: the scale was robust for screening mental distress, given its high reliability, in terms of homogeneity, and adequate criterion validity, whose best cut-off point for screening was a score greater than 14.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Psychological Distress , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: to verify the validity and reliability of the Psychological Distress Scale for screening mental distress. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 75 elderly people. Psychological Distress scale and Self Reporting Questionnaire were used. Criterion validity was verified using Spearman's correlation and diagnostic accuracy measures. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to investigate reliability. Results: the total internal consistency of the Psychological Distress Scale was α=0.844. Concurrent validity between this instrument and the Self Reporting Questionnaire was ρ=0.722 (p<0.001). The best cut-off point for screening mental distress among elderly people was a total score greater than 14, with sensitivity equal to 75.47% and specificity equal to 85.0%. Conclusions: the scale was robust for screening mental distress, given its high reliability, in terms of homogeneity, and adequate criterion validity, whose best cut-off point for screening was a score greater than 14.
RESUMEN Objetivos: verificar la validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Estrés Psicológico para el cribado del sufrimiento mental. Métodos: estudio transversal con 75 personas mayores. Se utilizó la escala y el cuestionario de autoinforme. La validez de criterio se verificó mediante la correlación de Spearman y las medidas de precisión diagnóstica. Se utilizó el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para investigar la confiabilidad. Resultados: la consistencia interna total de la escala fue α=0,844. La validez concurrente entre este instrumento y Self Reporting Questionnaire fue ρ=0,722 (p<0,001). El mejor punto de corte para el cribado del sufrimiento mental fue una puntuación total > 14, con una sensibilidad de 75,47% y una especificidad de 85,0%. Conclusiones: la escala fue robusta para el seguimiento del sufrimiento mental, dada su alta confiabilidad, en términos de homogeneidad, y adecuada validez de criterio, cuyo mejor punto de corte para el cribado fue una puntuación mayor a 14.
RESUMO Objetivos: verificar a validade e a confiabilidade da Escala de Estresse Psicológico para rastreio de sofrimento mental. Métodos: estudo transversal com 75 idosos. Utilizou-se escala de Estresse Psicológico e Self Reporting Questionnaire. Validade de critério foi verificada por meio da correlação de Spearman e de medidas de acurácia diagnóstica. Utilizou-se Coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para investigação da confiabilidade. Resultados: a consistência interna total da escala de Estresse Psicológico foi α=0,844. A validade concorrente entre esse instrumento e o Self Reporting Questionnaire foi ρ=0,722 (p<0,001). O melhor ponto de corte para rastreio de sofrimento mental entre idosos foi escore total maior do que 14, com sensibilidade igual a 75,47% e especificidade igual a 85,0%. Conclusões: a escala apresentou-se robusta para rastreamento de sofrimento mental, dada a sua elevada confiabilidade, em termos de homogeneidade, e adequada validade de critério, cujo melhor ponto de corte para rastreio foi pontuação maior do que 14.