Development and psychometric validation of an indigenous Urdu-language scale for Paranoid personality disorder in Pakistani adults

Objective: To develop and validate an indigenous Urdu-language scale to assess Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) in Pakistani adults, addressing the need for culturally appropriate diagnostic tools in mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study followed a rigorous scale development process from February to June 2019, including item generation, content validation, pilot testing, and factor analysis. Participants included 234 male and female adults, selected thorough purposive sampling technique from various government and private colleges, universities, hospitals and communities of Gujrat, Pakistan, encompassing both clinical and non-clinical populations. The scale development involved exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to ensure the reliability and validity of the final 26-item self-report measure. Results: The PPD Scale demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of .915, indicating good model fit, and a Cronbach's alpha of .934, reflecting high internal consistency. Additionally, the scale showed good convergent validity, with a significant correlation (.641, p<0.01) with the Social Suspiciousness Scale. Conclusion: The Urdu-language PPD Scale developed in this study is a reliable and valid tool for assessing PPD in Pakistani adults. Its robust psychometric properties, including excellent internal consistency and good model fit, make it a valuable instrument for both clinical and research purposes. The scale’s strong convergent validity further supports its effectiveness in measuring paranoid traits. This culturally appropriate diagnostic tool fills a significant gap in mental health assessments in Pakistan and can aid mental health professionals in diagnosing and understanding PPD within the local context.