Development of a Neurasthenia Scale in the Chinese Cultural Context

Amid the rising prevalence of depression in Chinese society, neurasthenia—a culturally specific mental disorder—often remains underrecognized, while the lack of specialized measurement tools has hindered its assessment and intervention evaluation. Based on the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD-3), this study developed a culturally adapted neurasthenia scale through systematic literature review, expert consultation, and empirical validation among college students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified a four-factor structure, comprising 23 items that assess: (1) Physical discomfort (somatic fatigue and physiological symptoms), (2) Mental excitation (hyperactive thinking), (3) Sleep disturbances (poor sleep quality), (4) Negative affectivity (anxiety, irritability). Reliability tests confirmed satisfactory internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. Criterion validity analyses demonstrated significant positive correlations between total/domain scores and measures of depression, anxiety, and neuroticism. Future research should validate the scale in clinical populations and investigate network interactions among symptom factors.