A self-reported Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) is recognized as a reliable and valid measure for assessment of depressive symptoms, applicable cross-culturally. The aim of the study was to adapt ZSDS for application in the bilingual Azerbaijani population.

ZSDS was translated into Azerbaijani and Russian. Two pilot studies on small samples (n = 30 and n = 45) were conducted to improve the scale's acceptability. A readability study was conducted on a bigger sample of depressed subjects (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 120). Chronbach's alpha for the total scale, item-test correlations, alpha if item deleted, and sensitivity and specificity at various cut-off levels were calculated.

The drop-out rate was 83.3% at the first pilot study due to problems of comprehension of item 5 and culturally unacceptable wording of item 6. After rewording of the items drop-out reduced to 20%. On the reliability study Chronbach's alpha for the total scale was 0.8727, and item-test correlations for the most individual items were satisfactory. An optimal cut-off point was 45 points with sensitivity=90.91%, specificity=80.83%.

Adaptation of the Zung Self-Reported Depression Scale improved cultural acceptability of the scale in the context of the Azerbaijani study population.

According to WHO data about 60–80 million people around the world suffer from infertility. This problem causes huge negative impact on family life. Forty percent of women with infertility experience various mental disorders.

Aims/objectives: Investigation of anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders in women with infertility. Assessment of impact of women infertility on self-esteem and certain aspects of life. Development of recommendations on mental health services for women, experiencing infertility problems.

Sixty women at the age of 21 to 36 years, experiencing infertility problems for maximum period of 60 months participated in the study. Anxiety, depression and stress rates were assessed using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - DASS-21, the level of self-esteem was determined with Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0.

Such factors as education, occupation, religious beliefs, and accessibility of proper medical services were determined to have significant impact on depression, anxiety and stress rates as well as on self-esteem and satisfaction with life of women with infertility.

Screening for early detection of mental health problems, psychological counseling and family therapy for couples encountering infertility problems was recommended.

To contribute to cross-cultural studies, the research used the special cultural context in the Azerbaijani urban population. Despite often being bilingual and speaking two languages (Azerbaijani and Russian), this Azerbaijani urban population were divided into two distinctive language groups with either Azerbaijani or Russian as the first language. A selfreported Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) is established to be a reliable and valid measure for assessment of depressive symptoms, applicable cross-culturally.

ZSDS was translated into Azerbaijani and Russian. Two pilot studies on small samples (n = 30 and n = 45) conducted to improve the scale's acceptability. Reliability study was conducted on a bigger sample of depressed subjects (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 120). Chronbach's alpha for the total scale, Item-test correlations, alpha if item deleted, and sensitivity and specificity at various cut-off levels were calculated.

Drop-out rate was 83.3% at the first pilot study due to pure comprehension of item 5 and culturally unacceptable wording of item 6. After rewording of the items drope-out reduced to 20% on the second pilot study. on the reliability study Chronbach's alpha for the total scale was 0.8727, and item-test correlations for the most individual items were satisfactory. An optimal cut-off point was 45 pints with sensitivity = 90.91%, specificity = 80.83%.

Reliability of the Zung Self-Reported Depression Scale improved cultural acceptability of the scale in the particular Azerbaijani population context.

The aim is to determine the prevalence and incidence of depression for an Azerbaijani female sample and explore the impact of cultural factors on depression.

To determine: the optimal cut-off point of ZDRS; the point prevalence and 3 month incidence of depression; risk factors for depression. To compare the depression prevalence in the two language groups of the Azerbaijani population (Azerbaijani-speaking and Russian-speaking) for determining possible impact of cultural factors on depression.

The first screening with ZDRS (Az) and ZDRS (Ru) were carried out with 1500 research participants, who filled out the questionnaires at their homes. All the screened subjects who score 40 and more on ZDRS were examined by MINI. True-positive and false-positive results were defined. Ten percent of the screened subjects, who score less than 40 on ZDRS were randomly chosen for clinical interviews to define true-negative and false-negative results. According to the analysis the optimal cut-off point of ZDRS in the Azerbaijani female population was found with the definition of its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Based on the optimal cut-off point of ZDRS, point prevalence and incidence of depression was determined in Azerbaijan. The follow-up screening was conducted to determine the 3 month incidence of depression.

The determined prevalence and incidence of depression will be reported with the optimal cut-off point of ZDRS.

The results of the current study suggested that the ZDRS was a valid tool for use in screening patients with depression disorders but need a modification.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.