Assessing depression among the Japanese population: psychometric properties of the Japanese version of Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-self-reported version

BACKGROUND: The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) is a useful, validated measure of depressive symptoms that covers the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. The Japanese translation of the QIDS (QIDS-J) has been published, but its psychometric properties have not been validated in large samples. METHODS: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the QIDS-J using secondary analysis data from a Japanese clinical study of internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy that includes 1,187 participants (698 males, 489 females; mean age: 43.46 ± 9.85). First, a cross-sectional survey examined descriptive statistics, factor structure, measurement/structural invariance, internal consistency, construct validity, and age and gender differences in measurement scores. Subsequently, a short-term longitudinal and cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a one-factor structure that demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as partially verified concurrent and construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the QIDS-J has robust psychometric properties and can assess depressive symptoms across nine DSM-IV criterion domains. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMINCTR) UMIN000019228 (Registration Date October 4, 2015) https://www.center6.umin.ac.jp/cgiopenbin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000022220.