Urdu translation and validation of clinically useful anxiety outcome scale in Pakistan: 'An observational study'.

OBJECTIVE: To translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale on Urdu-speaking population. METHODS: The observational validation study was conducted in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 2018 to December 2019 in two phases. In the first phase, the Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale was forward and backward translated, while in the second phase, the translated scale was validated on a sample comprising subjects in clinical and nonclinical settings. Internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities were examined, and inter- group mean comparison was made. To find out the level of language equivalence between the original and the translated versions, a data were collected from a separate sample of bilingual participants. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: The Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale-Urdu was found to be internally consistent (α=0.95). Test-retest reliability of the translated scale was satisfactory (r=0.74). Significant correlational values for convergent and discriminant validity (r=0.76, r=-0.54, p<0-01) were observed.. Significant mean difference between clinical and non-clinical groups established the criterion-related validity of the Urdu translation. Language equivalence between the original and the translated versions showed non-significant mean differences (p>0.05) and significant correlation coefficients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale-Urdu was found to be a valid and reliable tool for measuring anxiety symptoms in Urdu-speaking populations.

Mental health of internally displaced persons in Jalozai camp, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Internal displacement has been a distressing issue of Pakistan for last one decade. Few research works have been conducted on the psychological issues of internally displaced persons in Pakistan. AIMS: The current research was aimed at determining the psychological effects of internal displacement, that is, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety and stress (internalizing problems) of the individuals who were displaced as a result of an armed conflict in Swat. METHOD: A sample of 126 internally displaced persons was taken from Jalozai camp which included females (n = 65) and males (n = 61). Age of the sample ranged from 20 to 75 years with a mean of 47.5 years. Translated and adapted versions of Well-Being Affectometer-2 Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale were used in the current research. RESULTS: Results of the study indicated differences between males and females, females being higher on internalizing problems and lower on psychological well-being, whereas family loss during displacement affected the results in the same way. Well-being, gender and family loss emerged as significant predictors of internalizing problems, and gender moderated the relationship between well-being and internalizing problems. CONCLUSION: Internal displacement may bring psychological issues for internally displaced persons, that is, their well-being may decrease and depression, anxiety and stress may increase during displacement. Limitations and implications of the study were discussed further.