title: Psychiatric rating scales in Urdu: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Researchers setting out to conduct research employing questionnaires in non-English speaking populations need instruments that have been validated in the indigenous languages. In this study we have tried to review the literature on the status of cross-cultural and/or criterion validity of all the questionnaires measuring psychiatric symptoms available in Urdu language.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and http://www.pakmedinet.com was conducted using the search terms; Urdu psychiatric rating scale, and Urdu and Psychiatry. References of retrieved articles were searched. Only studies describing either cross-cultural or criterion validation of a questionnaire in Urdu measuring psychiatric symptoms were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty two studies describing validation of 19 questionnaires were identified. Six of these questionnaires were developed indigenously in Urdu while thirteen had been translated from English. Of the six indigenous questionnaires five had had their criterion validity examined. Of the thirteen translated questionnaires only four had had both their cross-cultural and criterion validity assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a paucity of validated questionnaires assessing psychiatric symptoms in Urdu. The BSI, SRQ and AKUADS are the questionnaires that have been most thoroughly evaluated in Urdu.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Aga Khan University, Stadium road, Karachi-74800, Pakistan. syed.ahmer@aku.edu
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmer
authors.forename: Rafey A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Faruqui
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aijaz
mesh_terms: D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D010154:Pakistan; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales