Development and validation of the "Adjustment Disorder Scale for Medically Ill Patients - ETAM"

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Adjustment disorder (AD) is prevalent in medically ill patients.
• Existing evaluation methods lack specificity for this population.
• There is a need for a tailored diagnostic tool for AD in medically ill individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a measurement scale for adjustment disorder (AD) in medically ill patients in Colombia.
• To assess the validity and reliability of the new scale.

Main Methods:

• Scale development involved qualitative item generation.
• Content validity was evaluated by patients and clinicians.
• Structural validity, internal consistency, reliability, and criterion validity were assessed using item response theory.

Main Results:

• The Adjustment Disorder Scale for Medically Ill Patients (ETAM) was developed with 20 items.
• The scale demonstrated a three-dimensional structure: AD Symptoms, Impact on Self-Care, and Impact on Desire to Live.
• High reliability (ICC=0.98) and validity (AUROC=0.99) were confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The ETAM is a valid and reliable scale for diagnosing AD in medically ill patients in Colombia.
• The scale addresses the specific needs of medically ill individuals experiencing adjustment disorder.