Versão brasileira do PHQ-15: adaptação transcultural e análise das propriedades de medida em disfunções temporomandibulares

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) often present psychosomatic symptoms, such as stress and anxiety, which emphasizes the importance of effective tools for tracking these symptoms. The Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), widely validated in different cultures, is a useful instrument to assess the severity of somatic symptoms. However, there are no records of its validation in Brazilian Portuguese, which justifies the purpose of this study. TMD, which affects essential functions such as chewing and speaking, is associated with factors like occlusal changes, trauma, and psychological aspects. This study aims to validate the PHQ-15 in Brazil, following COSMIN guidelines to ensure the instrument's reliability and validity, which are crucial for its clinical use. Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PHQ-15 in individuals with TMD. Methods: The study included 117 participants and was conducted in three phases: pre-test, field test, and formal evaluation, aiming for cultural and linguistic equivalence of the PHQ-15. In addition to the PHQ-15, the Symptom Checklist-90-R and a numerical pain scale were used as comparator instruments for construct validity analysis. Structural validity, internal consistency, reliability, measurement error, and ceiling and floor effects were also analyzed. Results: The construct validity proved to be a valid and reliable version, as well as the reliability (ICC > 0.8). The internal consistency was adequate for the total score (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79). Conclusion: The PHQ-15 in Brazilian Portuguese is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the severity of somatic symptoms in patients with TMD.