Behavior and Symptom identification scale (BASIS-24): Adaptação e validação da versão portuguesa

Abstract

Mental health is a vital component of overall health, essential for well-being, optimal functioning, and active social participation. In Portugal, the high prevalence of mental disorders reinforces the need for valid and reliable psychological assessment tools. The BASIS-24 (Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale) self-report scale assesses symptoms and functional difficulties in adults, covering six dimensions: depression/emotional functioning, interpersonal problems, psychotic symptoms, substance use, emotional lability, and self-harm. The present study aimed to adapt and validate the Portuguese version of BASIS-24, ensuring its linguistic equivalence, reliability, and validity. The sample included 224 Portuguese participants aged between 18 and 35 years (M = 23.35; SD = 4.05), of whom 71.4% were female. The instrument showed good overall internal consistency (α = .88), although two subscales revealed values lower than those recommended. Confirmatory factor analysis partially supported the six-factor structure, with acceptable fit indices. Positive correlations were observed with measures of anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) and negative correlations with well-being (MHC-SF), confirming convergent validity. BASIS-24 adequately distinguished between groups with and without physical illness, as well as groups with and without a history of mental health problems, demonstrating its discriminant validity. The results support the suitability of the Portuguese version for use in research, although further validation studies should be conducted in clinical settings.