Validity and Reliability of Psychometric Instruments for Screening Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Burnout in Healthcare Professionals

• Grant number: 25/25120-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Murrins Marques
• Grantee: Luiza Franco Fardin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mental health among healthcare professionals has emerged as a critical scientific and societal issue, given the high prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout in this population and their direct impact on quality of life, professional performance, and patient safety. Factors such as long working hours, night shifts, emotional overload, and lack of institutional support contribute to psychological distress and highlight the urgent need for early screening strategies. Although standardized psychometric instruments such as the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) or Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) are widely used in different contexts, there are still gaps regarding their validity and reliability when applied specifically to Brazilian healthcare professionals. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of these instruments and to describe the mental health profile of a sample of healthcare professionals in a hospital institution in the state of São Paulo. It is designed as a cross-sectional study, including sociodemographic data collection and the administration of psychometric questionnaires, followed by descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses conducted with Jamovi®. The expected outcomes include robust evidence on the psychometric performance of these instruments in this specific context, providing a foundation for more accurate, rapid, and cost-effective institutional screening protocols. In addition to contributing to the scientific training of the research fellow, this project is integrated into the broader research line of the group, which investigates the use of digital biomarkers - including acoustic features of voice analyzed by artificial intelligence - for the screening of mental disorders. Thus, this undergraduate research project represents a strategic step toward strengthening the methodological basis and expanding the clinical and social impact of the group's research. (AU)