Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in People Who Live with HIV (PWLH). The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among Iranian infected with HIV. In total, 150 PWLH were selected using the convenient sampling method among patients who visited Shemiranat, Dokmehchi, and Bouali health centers during the October 22 to December 16, 2020. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to collect data. Reliability, validity and Rock curve were assessed.
The exploratory analysis revealed one factor. The CFA results confirmed the one-factor model of the PHQ. The results (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.879, CR = 0.901, AVE = 0.504, rho_A = 0.899) indicated a high stability. The convergence validity of all questions (β = 000) was significant. For all questions β> 0.5 and PHQ-9, the AVE index was more than 0.5, but for HADS and BDI-II the AVE was less than 0.5. For PHQ-9, HADS had a CR higher than 0.7. PHQ-9 of divergence validity for all three questionnaires was AVE> MSV and AVE> ASV. The Cross Loadings, Farnell-Larcker and HTMT was confirmed. Therefore, convergence validity was acceptable. Finally, it can be reported that constructive validity was also acceptable. Cut off score was higher than 9, and sensitivity and specificity were equal to 957 and 937. According to the results, the validity and reliability of the PHQ-9 in assessing depression among PWLH are high.
