Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Overall Anxiety and Depression Severity and Impairment Scales in Colombia

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive disorders are highly prevalent among individuals affected by armed conflict. In Colombia, over 9 million people have been exposed to such violence, contributing to elevated emotional distress. This study validated the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS), two brief five-item tools designed to assess symptom severity and impairment. Data were collected from clinical (N = 198), community (N = 159), and conflict-affected (N = 284) samples (total N = 641). Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability estimates, item response theory, and ROC analyses supported a unidimensional structure, strong internal consistency (OASIS ω = 0.91; ODSIS ω = 0.92), and measurement invariance across groups. ROC-derived cut-offs were 11 (OASIS) and 12 (ODSIS). While validity and cut-off data were limited to conflict-affected individuals, findings support the utility of OASIS and ODSIS for screening anxiety and depression across diverse Colombian populations.