Beck Depression Inventory: Establishing the Reliability and Validity of the Kurdish Version Among Earthquake Survivors of Kermanshah, Iran

Background: Because of the dramatic rise in mental disorders after Kermanshah earthquake among earthquake survivors of allage groups, paying attention to the mental health of survivors and identifying their mental disorders such as depression are highlyessential. Thus, there is a need for valid screening measures for the common mental conditions among the earthquake survivors.Objectives: This study aimed to validate the Kurdish version of Beck depression inventory (BDI) among the earthquake survivorsof Kermanshah.Methods: First, the Kurdish version of BDI was prepared using the forward-backward method. Then, the prepared BDI questionnairewas distributed among ۱۳۸ earthquake survivors selected through the stratified random sampling method in Javanrud and Salascities of Iran. The reliability and internal consistency of the Kurdish version of BDI were evaluated using the test-retest correlationcoefficient and infraclass correlation coefficient. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version ۱۸.Results: The Kurdish version of BDI had desirable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = ۰.۶۶ to ۰.۸۹), test–retest reliability (r =۰.۸۶), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = ۰.۶۶) and discriminant validity among earthquake survivors with depression symptomsas the clinical samples and the control group (mean BDI = ۱۴.۴۳ vs. ۷.۷۶; P ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusions: This study indicated that the Kurdish version of the BDI-۲۱ is a valid, reliable and appropriate instrument to be usedas a depression screening measure among the Kurdish population of Kermanshah.

Keywords:

Validity , Reliability , Kurdish Version , Beck Depression Inventory