Validation of the delusional ideation inventory for the Portuguese population

Abstract

Introduction

The dimensional approaches regard delusions as a continuum of the daily beliefs, not being limited to the clinical population and it can also be found in the general population. Due to the multifaceted conceptualization of delusions, the analysis of the dimensions of distress, preoccupation and conviction may be more revealing than the content of the belief itself, whereby an evaluation that incorporates these dimensions is fundamental.

Objective

Translation, adaptation and study of the psychometric properties of the Peters et al. delusions inventory (PDI-21) for the Portuguese population.

Aim

Assessing the multidimensionality of the delusional ideation in the community.

Methods

The sample consists of 249 adults from the general population, aged between 18 to 65. The brief symptom inventory, the social desirability scale of the eysenck personality questionnaire and the World Health Organization quality of life–bref were used in this study beyond the PDI-21.

Results

The Portuguese version of the PDI-21 has shown good psychometric properties regarding its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It demonstrated significant positive correlations with the psychopathological symptoms and negative associations with social desirability and with the quality of life, confirming its divergent and convergent validity. The analysis of the frequency of delusional ideas for the total of the sample and on the basis of gender has revealed prevalence rates very similar to the ones found in previous studies.

Conclusions

The Portuguese version of the PDI-21 has adequate psychometric properties and it can be used to assess the delusional ideation in the general population.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.