Table of Contents
Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale
Scale Name
Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale
Author Details
Badar S. Ali, Imtiaz Jehan, Hashirn Reza, Murad M. Khan
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The use of translations of instruments for detecting anxiety and depression continues to be debated. An indigenous screening instrument has been developed in Urdu for anxiety-depression syndromes at the Aga Khan University. It has been developed from the complaints of 150 anxious and depressed patients presenting to a non-speciality clinic and has been validated in 53 patients in a psychiatry clinic.
The questionnaire has 25 items, 13 psychological and 12 somatic. At a score of 20 it has a sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 79%, a positive predictive value of 83 and a negative predictive value of 60. In comparison with available instruments in Urdu, comprising of either psychological or somatic items, this scale includes both, which increases its reliability for use as a screening instrument by Community Health Workers in a primary health care setting, in epidemiologic work in Pakistan and in transcultural psychiatric research.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Ensure the patient feels comfortable and in a private setting.
Explain the purpose of the AKUADS – to screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression. - The AKUADS consists of 25 questions addressing both psychological and somatic symptoms.
A healthcare professional will read the questions to the patient.
Reliability and Validity
The reliability and validity of the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale have been addressed in the development and validation of the tool. The development of the scale followed the complaints of 150 anxious and depressed patients presenting to a non-speciality clinic. The questionnaire was then validated in 53 patients in a psychiatry clinic in Pakistan.
At a score of 20, the scale has a sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 79%, a positive predictive value of 83%, and a negative predictive value of 60%. In comparison with available instruments in Urdu, comprising of either psychological or somatic items, this scale includes both, which increases its reliability for use as a screening tool.
Additionally, in the paper where the tool was presented, validity was addressed in terms of linguistic, conceptual, and scale equivalence. Scale equivalence assesses whether the questionnaire items are consistent between the original and translated versions, measurable through test-retest reliability.
Conceptual equivalence refers to whether similar constructs are being measured in the original version and the translated version of the questionnaire, and can be assessed by examining the factor structure of the scores obtained from the translated version. The linguistic equivalence of the scale was ensured by having bilingual experts in the field who participated in the translation of the scale.
However, as with any assessment tool, the reliability and validity of the scale may vary based on the context, population, and administration. Therefore, it is important to use the scale appropriately, with appropriate training and clinical judgment from qualified professionals like mental health professionals, to reduce any potential biases or errors.
Available Versions
25-Items
Reference
Ali, B. S., Reza, H., Khan, M. M., & Jehan, I. (1998). Development of an indigenous screening instrument in Pakistan: the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 48(9), 261–265.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale?
A: The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale is an indigenous screening tool developed in Urdu for anxiety and depression syndromes at the Aga Khan University in Pakistan.
Q: What is the purpose of the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale?
A: The purpose of the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale is to screen and detect anxiety and depression in a non-specialty clinic setting.
Q: How many items does the questionnaire have?
A: The questionnaire has 25 items, 13 psychological and 12 somatic.
Q: Has the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale been validated?
A: Yes, the scale has been validated in a psychiatry clinic in Pakistan. At a score of 20, the scale has a sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 79%, a positive predictive value of 83%, and a negative predictive value of 60%.
Q: Is the questionnaire available in other languages besides Urdu?
A: The source material does not indicate whether or not the questionnaire is available in other languages.
Q: Who can administer the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale?
A: Although the source material did not specify, the assessment tool should be administered by trained professionals such as mental health professionals or clinicians.
Q: What is the advantage of using the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale?
A: The scale has both psychological and somatic items, which increases its reliability as a screening tool, and is useful for detecting anxiety and depression in a non-specialty clinical setting.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
