Validation of the Japanese Version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised: A Preliminary Analysis

Hirohito Tsuboi  1 , Yui Takakura  1 , Hiromasa Tsujiguchi  2 , Sakae Miyagi  3 , Keita Suzuki  2 , Thao Thi Thu Nguyen  4 , Kim Oanh Pham  5 , Yukari Shimizu  6 , Yasuhiro Kambayashi  7 , Naoko Yoshida  1 , Akinori Hara  2 , Hiroyuki Nakamura  2

To make the Japanese version of the CESD-R-a revised version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale (CES-D)-in the assessment of depressive symptoms in a general population. The English version of CESD-R was translated into Japanese, and back-translated into English by three native speakers of Japanese and English; then, we selected the version most completely consistent with the original items. The CESD-R was applied to 398 community-dwelling people (191 men: 48.0%, and 207 women: 52.0%) who were over 40 years old. The Japanese version of the CES-D was also carried out in the same population. Factor analysis was performed. Additionally, the correlations between the CESD-R and CES-D results were identified. The CESD-R scores showed a significantly positive correlation with CES-D scores (r = 0.74, p < 0.0005). Analysis of the CESD-R yielded a Cronbach's alpha result of 0.90. Factor analysis revealed one principal factor in the CESD-R, whereas the original CES-D had two factors because of reversed items. The Japanese version of the CESD-R appears to have the reliability to be applicable for assessing depressive symptoms in population-based samples. However, because the Japanese expressions for some items might be unusual, our study population was also limited; further studies on other populations and on incorporating improved Japanese terminology will be needed.
Keywords: CES-D; CESD-R; Japanese version; depressive symptoms; epidemiological study.

Behav Sci (Basel)

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