Validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the male depression risk scale and the gender-sensi- tive scale

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to inves-tigate the Turkish validity and reliability of the Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS) and the Gender -Sensitive Depression Scale (GSDS). Method: 108 patients met the diagnostic criteria for major depres-sive disorder applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine and Yozgat City Hospital Psychiatry Clinic and 98 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants were given the MDRS, GSDS, and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) self-report scales. Explanatory factor analysis, correlation analyzes, and Mann-Whitney U and t test were used for disciriminant-convergent validity. Internal consistency coefficient and item -total score correlations were calculated for reliability. ROC analysis was conducted to show how much the scales differentiates the patient and the healthy control group. Results: Three-factor solution was obtained for both scales. These factors are Alcohol, Substance and Depression for MDRS; Dysphoria-Irritability, Impulsivity-Shame, and Alcohol for GSDS. Item factor loads were between 0.347-0.893 in MDRS and 0.377-0.962 in GSDS. The scales have been shown to be valid in terms of convergent and discri-minant validity. At the same time, the scales were found to be reliable, and the internal consistency coefficients were 0.912 and 0.917 for MDRS and GSDS, respectively. The reliability of the subscales is also at an acceptable level. Subscale scores for both scales, except alcohol and substance dimensions, were significantly higher in women. The area under the curve was 0.847 for MDRS and 0.868 for GSDS in the ROC analysis. Conclusion: The analyses revelaed that Turkish forms of MDRS and GSDS were valid and reliable. Male-type depression symptoms were not specific to men, but the results pointed to a separate type in which externalizing symptoms are dominant. These scales are thought to be valuable and useful for studies to be conducted in our country with male -type depression.