Further validation of Zagazig depression scale shortened form (ZDS-SF) and depression diagnosis in a United Kingdom (UK) student population

The Zagazig Depression Scale has been validated in Egyptian populations and the shortened form (ZDS-SF) found high rates of depression in Egyptian students. Preliminary research has supported the validity and reliability of the measure in a UK student but further work is needed. The study aimed to determine the criterion validity of the ZDS-SF against a clinical interview and its test-retest reliability in a UK student sample. Participants (n=20) completed online measures of the Patient Health Questionnaire and the ZDS-SF at time 1. At time 2 (median follow-up 15 days) they were interviewed using the Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) to establish a clinical diagnosis of depression, followed by re-administration of the online measures. There was excellent (95%)agreement for diagnosis of depression between time 2 ZDS-SF and SCAN (Kappa = 0.89). The sensitivity of the ZDS-SF was 100% and the specificity 93.3%, giving an overall positive predictive value of 83.3%. The ZDS-SF symptom score also had good response stability over a two week interval (ICC = 0.66). ZDS-SF scale is a valid measure of depression for use in a UK university student cohort with good psychometric properties and can be used for cross-cultural comparison studies.