The development and validation of the Peradeniya Depression Scale (PDS)—A culturally relevant tool for screening of depression in Sri Lanka

BackgroundCultural factors may influence the manner in which a given population interprets and conceptualizes their experience of depression. The aim of this study is to validate the Peradeniya Depression Scale (PDS), a locally created, culturally relevant tool for detection of depression in Sri Lanka.MethodFifty currently depressed patients (diagnosed via the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders) and 50 (non-depressed) controls were administered the PDS.ResultsAt a score of 10/25 the PDS showed a sensitivity 88.5% and specificity of 85.0% with regards to the detection of depression. Culturally appropriate statements, which referred to international criteria of depression and somatic symptoms, showed significantly higher odds of being positive in depressed patients compared to controls.LimitationsThe PDS was validated among an outpatient population presenting to a psychiatry clinic in a government hospital in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. While this is fairly representative of patients presenting to government hospital clinics in this country, further multi-centre studies in different areas of the country maybe useful.ConclusionThe PDS is the first screening tool for depression developed and validated in Sri Lanka, written in Sinhalese, taking into account cultural expressions and idioms of the illness. It shows satisfactory sensitivity and specificity as a screening tool for depression. The findings also suggest that it maybe worthwhile for Asian countries to consider adopting scales which are based on internationally accepted diagnostic criteria for depression, but which incorporate expressions that are more appropriate to their own culture and language.