Comparison between Psychometric Characteristics of Persian Version of the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Normal Groups

Abstract

Background :

The purpose of this study was to determine reliability and construct validity of a Persian version of the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) in 2 samples of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) and healthy persons.

Materials and Methods :

The clinical sample consisted of 143 patients diagnosed with FGID who were referred to the Psychosomatic Disorders Clinic. Controls consisted of 108 healthy individuals (without digestive diagnoses) matched by age, gender, marital and educational status.

Results :

The results of the factor structure or construct validity that used the principal components analysis with varimax rotation was 4 factors of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, and indigestion in patients with FGID, which showed a 61.53 variance. Among the 6 factors of indigestion, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, hungry pain, and nausea in healthy persons there was a 73.32 variance. Reliabilities of the GSRS and its dimensions were satisfactory with Cronbach-Alpha.

Conclusion :

The Persian version of the GSRS has favorable reliability and validity.