Scientific article
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English

The assessment of transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders: Validation of the Multidimensional Emotional Disorders Inventory (MEDI) in adolescents with subthreshold anxiety and depression

Published inJournal of affective disorders, vol. 357, p. 138-147; 138-147
Publication date2024-07-15
First online date2024-04-27
Abstract

Background: The transdiagnostic approach to psychopathology has emerged as an alternative to traditional taxonomic approaches. The Multidimensional Emotional Disorders Inventory (MEDI) is a specifically designed self-report to measure the transdiagnostic dimensions proposed by Brown and Barlow (2009). This study aims to analyse the psychometric properties of the MEDI scores in adolescents with subthreshold anxiety and depression.

Method: The sample consisted of a total of 476 students. The mean age was 13.77 years (SD = 1.43) (range 10 to 18 years), 73.9 % were females. Several questionnaires assessing positive affect, negative affect, mental health difficulties, and quality of life were used.

Results: The original 9-factor structure of the MEDI was confirmed with good fit indices. Satisfactory levels of internal consistency were observed in most of the MEDI scores using McDonald's Omega, ranging from 0.58 to 0.87. The MEDI dimensions were associated with psychopathology, positive affect, negative affect, and quality of life.

Limitations: Reliance on self-reported data, a cross-sectional design limiting temporal assessment, and a 73.9 % female gender imbalance.

Conclusion: The MEDI scores showed adequate psychometric properties among adolescents with subclinical emotional symptoms. The results found might have potential clinical implications for conceptualization, assessment, intervention, and prevention of emotional disorders at both clinical and research levels.

Keywords
  • Adolescents
  • Emotional disorders
  • MEDI
  • Psychometric
  • Subclinical symptoms
  • Transdiagnostic
  • Validation
  • Humans
  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Male
  • Psychometrics
  • Child
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / psychology
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Self Report
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / standards
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
Citation (ISO format)
PÉREZ-ESTEBAN, Alfonso et al. The assessment of transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders: Validation of the Multidimensional Emotional Disorders Inventory (MEDI) in adolescents with subthreshold anxiety and depression. In: Journal of affective disorders, 2024, vol. 357, p. 138–147. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.081
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Article (Published version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0165-0327
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Technical informations

Creation10/09/2024 09:59:33
First validation20/09/2024 12:26:14
Update time20/09/2024 12:26:14
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