Exploring the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) in Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Background: Disability is a significant common health problem, affecting almost 15% of the worldwide population. Among the several forms of disability, those stemming from psychological problems often encounter heightened discrimination and prejudice. WHODAS 2.0 stands as a comprehensive and pragmatic measure for examining health and disability in multiple life domains. The primary endeavors of this study are to translate and adapt the WHODAS 2.0 instrument and further investigate its reliability and validity, specifically focusing on confirming its original factor structure in Pakistani patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Method: A purposive sampling technique and a cross-sectional research design were used in the present study. It consisted of two studies: (1) a preliminary study, and (2) a main study. In the preliminary study, the standard translation method was used to translate and adapt the WHODAS 2.0 scale and evaluate its cross-cultural validation in a university student sample. In contrast, the main study was conducted to examine the construct validity of the Urdu version of the WHODAS 2.0 scale in schizophrenic patients. For this purpose, one hundred diagnosed schizophrenia patients with an age between 20 and 60 (M = 31, SD = 8.02) years were incorporated into the department of psychiatrists at various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from August to October 2022.

Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the construct validity of the Urdu version of WHODAS 2.0 in Pakistani schizophrenic patients. The study established internal consistency, alpha-Cronbach reliability, test-retest reliability, and construct validity in schizophrenic patients. These findings robustly confirmed the suitability of the Urdu version of WHODAS 2.0 for clinical practice in the Pakistani context.

Conclusions: WHODAS 2.0 has the potential to be a valid and reliable instrument to examine disability and health in multiple life domains in schizophrenic patients. Mental health professionals can use the WHODAS in routine examinations to comprehend functional impairments in schizophrenia patients that further guide the development of treatment plans.