Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version Post-Stroke Depression Scale: The Case of Neurology Outpatients in Rasht, North Iran

Background: Psychiatrists use different scales to evaluate post-stroke depression; however, some concerns have raised about their low specificity. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Post-Stroke Depression Scale (PSDS) in Iran. Materials & Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 155 patients with stroke who were referred to neurology clinics in Rasht City, Iran, were interviewed by a psychiatric assistant (Gold Standard DSM-5 interview was used to separate the depressed from the non-depressed). The participants were then assessed by the PSDS and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Moreover, a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve with the standard Gold DSM-5 interview was used to determine the ability of the scales and to categorize depression. Eventually, the data were analyzed in SPSS v. 19. Results: Data analysis indicates that the factor structure of HADS is one-dimensional, and exploratory and confirmatory analysis supported the fit for the one-factor model as the best fitting model. Bartlett test (The Chi-square=408.217, df=28, P<0.001) showed significant relationships between variables. The internal consistency of HADS was 0.638 for depression and 0.617 for anxiety. The test-retest reliability is equal to for 60 subjects were randomly re-evaluated within one to two weeks, reported that r=0.783, for anxiety and r=0.741 for depression. Finally, based on the ROC curve, the cut-off point of 9 was chosen, and the different severity of depression was distinguished by 9, 14, and 20. Conclusion: The Persian version of PSDS possesses appropriate psychometric properties among the Iranian population.