PPmP Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie
Volume 66, Issue 9-10, 2016, Pages 385-392

Psychometric Evaluation of an Arabic Version of the PHQ-4 Based on a Representative Survey of Syrian Refugees [Psychometrische Prüfung einer Hocharabischen Übersetzung des PHQ-4 anhand einer repräsentativen Befragung syrischer Geflüchteter] (Article)

Kliem S. , Mößle T. , Klatt T.* , Fleischer S. , Kudlacek D. , Kröger C. , Brähler E. , Beutel M.E. , Wiltink J.
  • a Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen eV, Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, Lützerodestraße 9, Hannover, 30161, Germany, Institut für Psychologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
  • b Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen eV, Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, Lützerodestraße 9, Hannover, 30161, Germany
  • c Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen eV, Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, Lützerodestraße 9, Hannover, 30161, Germany
  • d Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen eV, Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, Lützerodestraße 9, Hannover, 30161, Germany
  • e Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen eV, Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, Lützerodestraße 9, Hannover, 30161, Germany
  • f Institut für Psychologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
  • g Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Germany, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Germany
  • h Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Germany
  • i Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Germany

Abstract

Background: This study addresses the need for methodologically sound, brief screening procedures (e. g., the PHQ-4) which need to be validated for refugees in their native languages. Method: A cohort of Syrian refugees in the state of Lower Saxony was investigated with the PHQ-4 translated into Standard Arabic language by a professional translation bureau. Based on representative data, the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was estimated among refugees. N=864 persons of mainly male sex (68%) answered with a mean age of M=31.5 (SD=9.3 years, ranging from 16 to 93 years). Results: Internal consistency was good (PHQ-2, respectively GAD-2: α=0.76/0.83; women α=0.76/0.83; men: α=0.76/0.83). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed good to excellent fit: RMSEA=0,068 [95%-KI: 0.028, 0.117], TLI=0.971, CFI=0.995. Measurement invariance was demonstrated for sex. The prevalence of depression was 20%, which corresponds to results reported for the German population; generalized anxiety was moderately higher in the Syrian sample (19.3 vs. 15.2%). Discussion: The Arabic version of the PHQ-4 is an ultra-short and valid screening procedure suitable for refugees from Arabic countries. The finding that the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was moderate may be due to the sample composition, which comprised predominantly young men. Given the often traumatic circumstances of their flight, additional symptoms beyond the scope of this study (esp. PTSD) can be expected. © Georg Thieme Verlag KGStuttgart · New York.

Author Keywords

Psychological distress Refugees Screening PHQ-4

Index Keywords

Germany depression refugee internal consistency Syrian Arab Republic human validation study Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal Aged Arab Health Surveys ethnology Arabs Cross-Sectional Studies Patient Health Questionnaire 2 Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly Germanic people confirmatory factor analysis evaluation study questionnaire patient health questionnaire prevalence Psychometrics psychometry Article Syrian translating (language) Translating adult Syria Patient Health Questionnaire 4 generalized anxiety disorder cohort analysis health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84991717294&doi=10.1055%2fs-0042-114775&partnerID=40&md5=94f9b69c8309cabcc539dfbbe7f75d29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-114775
ISSN: 09372032
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English; German