Validation of hindi translation of DSM-5 level 1 cross-cutting symptom measure.

Background: The DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure is a self- or informant-rated measure that assesses mental health domains which are important across psychiatric diagnoses. The absence of this self- or informant-administered instrument in Hindi, which is a major language in India, is an important limitation in using this scale.

Objective: To translate the English version of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure to Hindi and evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. The DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure was translated into Hindi using the World Health Organization's translation methodology. Methods: Mean and standard deviation were evaluated for continuous variables while for categorical variables frequency and percentages were calculated. The translated version was evaluated for cross-language equivalence, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and split half reliability.

Results: Hindi version was found to have good cross-language equivalence and test-retest reliability at the level of items and domains. Twenty two of the 23 items and all the 23 items had a significant correlation (ρ < 0.001) in cross language concordance and test-retest reliability data, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.95, and the Spearman-Brown Sphericity value was 0.79 for the Hindi version.

Conclusions: The present study shows that cross-language concordance, internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability of the Hindi version of the measure are excellent. Thus, the Hindi version of DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure as translated in this study is a valid instrument.