Validation of the Thai Version of the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) in adolescent psychiatric patients
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: A basic screening tool for depression for adolescents was insufficient in Thailand. Thus, PatientHealth Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) was translated into Thai. This study aimed to examinethe psychometric properties of the Thai version of the PHQ-A. Samples were 11-20 year old patientswho attended 12 child and adolescent psychiatric clinics across Thailand. Of 272 adolescent patients,172 patients had depression and 100 patients did not have depression. To evaluate criterion validity,the PHQ-A scores were compared with the clinical diagnosis. Internal consistency and exploratoryfactor analysis (EFA) were also conducted for item and factor analysis Convergent validity was calculatedfrom correlations between the PHQ-A and the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Centre forEpidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The internal consistency coefficient of the Thai versionof the PHQ-A was 0.92. EFA suggested that one-factor structure of depressive symptoms was suitablefor the PHQ-A. The area under the curve of the PHQ-A total score against professional diagnosis was0.88. The results indicated an optimal cut-off point with acceptable sensitivity and specificity of 8.Moreover, the PHQ-A score of 10 was useful for differentiating between patients without depression andthose with moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD). Convergent validity was good with highcorrelations for both the CDI and the CES-D (r=0.83 and 0.87, respectively). The Thai version of thePHQ-A is a valid and reliable measurement. The tool is simple and easy to use for screening and monitoringthe severity of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in both clinical and communitysettings.
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: UNICEF
OpenAlex ID: W7034568777