Comprehension and motivation in responses to a psychiatric screening instrument. Validity of the SRQ in Ethiopia.

Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science

Volume: 153

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 1989

Affiliated Institutions:  Psychiatric Hospital Wolfheze, The Netherlands.

Abstract summary 

The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ), a psychiatric-case-finding instrument designed by the WHO for developing countries, was tested in Ethiopia. It was submitted to 40 patients attending a psychiatric clinic, 30 at a somatic clinic, and 40 subjects not attending a clinic. Forty per cent of the yes-answers were rated as invalid. The concept-invalidity contributed mainly to the rather poor criterion-validity of the SRQ. In addition, clinic patients seemed to heighten the number of yes-answers to express their need for help. The SRQ measured not only psychiatric complaints but also illness behaviour, even without the presence of any illness. This is a substantial disadvantage if the SRQ is applied to detect the psychiatric cases in the primary-care facilities.

Authors & Co-authors:  Kortmann F F ten Horn S S

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  2
Identifiers
Doi : 
SSN : 0007-1250
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Ethiopia
Publication Country
England