Abstract:Background: Globally, standardised mental health screening tools are critical for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as for population-level surveillance. However, most commonly used mental health screening and assessment tools have been developed in high-income, Western contexts. Methods: Systematic scoping review of published empirical papers which included an analysis or reflection on how these tools have been culturally adapted for use with adult populations from different settings and languages. Results: Seventy-three studies were identified, with adaptations occurring across 31 languages. Most studies reported adequate psychometric validation, yet, many required further modifications, including item removal, adjusted cut-off scores, and the development of a novel tool to be used alongside the adapted tool. Only a small number of studies focused on African or Latin American contexts, exposing a significant geographic gap. Conclusion: Despite the availability of multiple adaptation guidelines, no gold standard was identified. Additionally, it remains unclear whether current procedures ensure cultural equivalence. There is an urgent need to examine the rigor and cultural validity of adaptation practices. Future research should also critically evaluate whether existing adaptation processes capture culturally grounded expressions of mental distress and support equitable mental health assessment across communities.
Keywords: Mental Health, mental health, assessment, screening, cultural, adaptation
