Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): Arabic - Vacau

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ):
Arabic
POPULATION FOR WHICH THIS VERSION WAS TRIALED:
Adolescents to adults (aged 16-65) sampled from Al-Alin, United Arab Emirates
(UAE): Participants were primary health care patients, community residents and
university students (political sciences).
PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES
• Concurrent validity: Poor concurrent validity reported in two studies.
Further evidence from independent research teams required.
• Diagnostic validity: In identifying psychiatric cases from non-cases the
GHQ-30 demonstrated excellent screening accuracy in one study of UAE
community residents when assessed against the Arabic version of the
Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The GHQ-12 showed good
screening accuracy in one study of UAE primary health care patients when
assessed against the Structured Clinical Interview.
• Sensitivity and specificity: There is no available evidence relating to
sensitivity and specificity.
• Internal consistency: Average to good full-scale internal consistency
estimates for GHQ-12 scores have been reported in two studies conducted
in the United Arab Emirates (primary health care patients and university
students respectively). No further reliability evidence for the GHQ-12 or
GHQ-30.
• Norms: None.
• Responsiveness to change: Unknown.
SPECIAL NOTES:
See Matthey, Barnett and Elliott, (1997) for potential problems when using the
Arab version of the GHQ-30 in Sydney, Australia.
OVERALL COMMENT:
Use is recommended with caution (see explanatory note on page 14.)
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