extended · article · 2015

Diagnostic Validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) among Pregnant Women

Qiu-Yue Zhong; Bizu Gelaye; Alan M. Zaslavsky; Jesse R. Fann; Marta B. Rondón; Sixto E. Sánchez; Michelle A. Williams; Mark Wilson

OBJECTIVE: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) during pregnancy is associated with several adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. A reliable and valid screening tool for GAD should lead to earlier detection and treatment. Among pregnant Peruvian women, a brief screening tool, the GAD-7, has not been validated. This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the GAD-7. METHODS: Of 2,978 women who attended their first perinatal care visit and had the GAD-7 screening, 946 had a Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The Cronbach's alpha was calculated to examine the reliability. We assessed the criterion validity by calculating operating characteristics. The construct validity was evaluated using factor analysis and association with health status on the CIDI. The cross-cultural validity was explored using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM). RESULTS: The reliabilit...