Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) Turkish Version: Examination of Psychometric Properties in Depressed and...

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS-TR) in a clinical sample of adolescents, including those diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis and/or psychotic individuals (UHR/PSYC), and healthy controls (HC). The study included 63 cases diagnosed with MDD and 59 cases evaluated as UHR/PSYC, aged between 12-18 years, who were admitted to the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. 58 age-matched healthy children constituted the control group. The construct validity of the scale was evaluated through factor analysis. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω. For the assessment of convergent, concurrent, and divergent validity, the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), the Behavioral Activation System/Behavioral Inhibition System Scale (BAS/BIS), and the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) were employed. There was a strong correlation between total DARS scores and SHAPS, BAS, and the anhedonia-related item of CDRS-R (p < 0.001). However, no significant relationship was found with BIS score. DARS items demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.92, McDonald's ω_T = 0.94). Factor analysis revealed that DARS items loaded onto four factors, explaining 73.07% of the total variance. Additionally, the four-factor structure demonstrated adequate fit. The findings obtained in the present study demonstrate that DARS-TR is a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively assessing state anhedonia in adolescent populations with MDD, UHR/PSYC, and non-psychiatric individuals.