Reliability and discriminant validity of the Slovak version of the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) in a student sample

Background: The Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ) is a widely used measure for psychosis risk assessment. The primary aim of this study is to examine the reliability and discriminant validity of the Slovak version of the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) in a sample of university students. Methods: A sample of 1276 (75% female) university students completed a cross-sectional online survey consisting of a large battery of scales measuring psychopathology, social functioning, and well-being. The mean age was M = 22.59 and SD = 3.94. Results: On a bivariate level, the prodromal symptoms severity measured by the PQ-16 was associated with depression, anxiety, lower well-being, and more severe problems in social functioning. The PQ-16 explained a significant variability of social functioning above and beyond the effect of depression and anxiety. Results revealed sufficient internal reliability (alpha = 0.774 and omega = 0.761) of the scale. Conclusions: The Slovak version of the PQ-16 has sound reliability and shows an adequate pattern of association with depression, anxiety, and social functioning. These promising findings need to be replicated on an independent sample of help-seeking individuals or a high-risk population.