The Turkish Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Child in Adolescents with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Psychometric Analysis

Background/Aims: Currently, no validated method exists to assess possible pain catastrophizing in adolescents with FMF. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Child (PCS-C) in adolescents with FMF by investigating internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. Materials and Methods: Turkish PCS-C, Visual Analog Scale during rest (VAS-rest) and activity (VAS-activity), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Arthritis Module 3.0 were administered to 66 adolescents with FMF (age: 13-18 years). Cronbach's alpha value was calculated for internal consistency. Turkish PCS-C was re-administered 2 weeks later by phone to 24 participants to calculate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for determining test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was investigated by calculating Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficients (rs) between Turkish PCS-C and other evaluated parameters. Results: Item 8 was excluded from the Turkish PCS-C due to its low contribution to internal consistency. Following this, the Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.934. The remaining items contributed to the total score (item-total correlations > 0.4), and Cronbach's alpha did not differ significantly with the exclusion of any items (change < 1%). The Turkish PCS-C demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.925). Fair to moderate positive correlations were detected between the Turkish PCS-C total score and VAS-rest (rs = 0.373), VAS-activity (rs = 0.536), and PedsQL scores (rs = 0.551). Conclusion: Turkish PCS-C may be used as a valid and reliable tool to assess pain catastrophizing in adolescents with FMF.· Unpredictable nature of the pain in FMF may cause pain catastrophizing. · The validity and reliability of Turkish Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Child (PCS-C) was shown for the first time in an adolescent age group. · Turkish PCS-C was introduced to clinical and research settings to evaluate the possible pain catastrophizing in FMF.