Reliability and Validity of the WHOQOL BREF in a Sample of Brazilian Outpatients with Major Depression

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 561 - 564
• Main Authors: Berlim, Marcelo T, Pavanello, Daniele P, Caldieraro, Marco A K, Fleck, Marcelo P A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Springer 01-03-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Antidepressants; Brazil; Brief Communication; Demography; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Depressive disorders; Environmental health; Female; Humans; Major depressive disorder; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Outpatients; Physical health; Psychiatric diagnosis; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Social psychology; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; World Health Organization; Brazil
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-004-4694-y

The present study assessed the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument - Short Version (WHOQOL BREF) in a sample of 89 adult outpatients with major depression. After analyses, the WHOQOL BREF showed good internal consistency, and was sensitive to improvement after treatment with antidepressants. Convergent validity between the WHOQOL BREF and the Beck Depression Inventory was statistically significant, as well as WHOQOL BREF's ability to discriminate between outpatients on the basis of their level of depression. In conclusion, the WHOQOL BREF seems to be a psychometrically valid and reliable instrument that it is suitable for evaluating the quality of life of Brazilian-speaking depressed outpatients.