RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a commonly used instrument to screen for psychiatric distress. However, the psychometric properties and reliability of the GHQ-12 in Argentina and, more specifically, in the city of Cordoba, have not previously been studied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychometric properties and reliability of GHQ-12 in adult consultants of primary care in Cordoba, Argentina. METHODS: Using probabilistic sampling in primary care centers in the city of Cordoba, a cross-sectional study was conducted. The Spanish version of the GHQ-12 was administered. The psychometric properties, including internal consistency and factor structure, for the Spanish version of the GHQ-12 were measured. RESULTS: 854 primary care consultants were included in the study. The questionnaire had high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.80. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model, similar to what has been reported for the original questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The GHQ-12 showed good psychometric properties and reliability in the studied population.