VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY STUDY OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF THE PRODROMAL QUESTIONNAIRE-16

Objective: Early identification of psychosis can help prevent functional impairments and reduce healthcare costs by positively influencing illness progression. Reliable and rapid assessment tools are therefore essential. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Prodromal Questionnaire-16 (PQ-16).Materials and Methods: This methodological study was conducted between June and December 2024 among adults aged 18-65 years. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and PQ-16. Psychometric evaluation included language and content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, convergent and discriminant validity, item-total correlations, Cronbach’s alpha, and test–retest reliability.Results: Exploratory factor analysis supported the 16-item structure, revealing three factors that explained 41.85% of total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis further validated this structure. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.80, with factor loadings ranging from 0.31 to 0.59. The test-retest reliability coefficient was high (r = 0.922, p < 0.01).Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the PQ-16 is a valid and reliable tool in Turkish. Its brevity and ease of use enhance its utility for detecting prodromal symptoms of psychosis. The scale is recommended for integration into early detection practices by mental health professionals.Keywords: Signs and symptoms, psychotic disorders, scale, reliability and validity