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The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) has been widely used to screen psychological distress across many countries. However, its performance has not been extensively studied in Africa. The present study sought to evaluate and compare measurement properties of the K10 across four African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Our hypothesis is that the measure will show equivalence across all. Data are drawn from a neuropsychiatric genetic study among adult participants ( N = 9179) from general medical settings in Ethiopia ( n = 1928), Kenya ( n = 2556), Uganda ( n = 2104), and South Africa ( n = 2591). A unidimensional model with correlated errors was tested for equivalence across study countries using confirmatory factor analyses and the alignment optimization method. Results displayed 30 % noninvariance (i.e., variation) for both intercepts and factor loadings across all countries. Monte Carlo simulations showed a correlation of 0.998, a good replication of population values, indicating minimal noninvariance, or variation. Items "so nervous," "lack of energy/effortful tasks," and "tired" were consistently equivalent for intercepts and factor loadings, respectively. However, items "depressed" and "so depressed" consistently differed across study countries (R 2 = 0) for intercepts and factor loadings for both items. The K10 scale likely functions equivalently across the four countries for most items, except "depressed" and "so depressed." Differences in K10 items were more common in Kenya and Ethiopia, suggesting cultural context may influence the interpretation of some items and the potential need for cultural adaptations in these countries.

Globally close to 70% of the general population has experienced at least one traumatic life event (TLE). Although child and adulthood exposure to TLEs is considered a risk factor for the subsequent development of psychosis, few studies have examined the association between trauma and psychosis in the African population. We sought to explore the association between TLEs and psychosis in patients with psychotic disorders (N = 254) and individuals without (N = 254). The participants were matched by age and sex. The study was conducted at a national referral hospital, the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) was used to obtain data on TLEs, and ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee. The proportion of those who experienced TLEs was equal among the cases and controls at about 80%. However, more cases reported that the TLEs happened to them (cases 60.3, p = 0.004). After multivariate analysis, the following specific TLEs remained statistically significant.: Physical assault (aOR = 3.66, 95% CI 2.28-5.48), assaults with a weapon (aOR = 5.26, 95% CI 2.15-10.48), sexual assault (aOR = 4.55, 95% CI 1.08-10.48). The sudden death of a loved one (aOR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.15-4.70) and serious injury/harm to others (aOR = 10.53, 95% CI 1.47-89.37)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Competing Interests: CZ receives consulting fees from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. PY receives honoraria from Novartis, bioMérieux, and Pfizer and receives advisory board fees from Pfizer and fees for serving on a DSMB from the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute all unrelated to the topic of this Comment. JM is an unpaid Board member of the International Working Group for Health systems strengthening unrelated to the topic of this Comment. DO-A receives advisory board fees from Inovio Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the Board of Directors of GLICO Healthcare all unrelated to the topic of this Comment. The other authors declare no competing interests. This Comment is being published simultaneously in multiple journals (appendix). The full list of journals and supporting journals can be found on the BMJ website.

Competing Interests: CZ receives consulting fees from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. PY receives honoraria from Novartis, bioMérieux, and Pfizer and receives advisory board fees from Pfizer and fees for serving on a DSMB from the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute all unrelated to the topic of this Comment. JM is an unpaid Board member of the International Working Group for Health systems strengthening unrelated to the topic of this Comment. DO-A receives advisory board fees from Inovio Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the Board of Directors of GLICO Healthcare all unrelated to the topic of this Comment. The other authors declare no competing interests. This Comment is being published simultaneously in multiple journals (appendix). The full list of journals and supporting journals can be found on the BMJ website.

Competing Interests: None declared.