Development and validation of the NIMHANS-NMHS-2 disability scale (NNDS)

Indian Journal of Psychiatry 2026 Open access

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Authors: TS Jaisoorya, Lakshmi Jogi, V.S. Binu, Harsh Khandelwal, Avani Sharma, Susanna G. Mathew, Niharika Singh, Jarsha Mary, Hareesh Angothu, Krishna Prasad Muliyala, Jagadisha Thirthalli, C. Naveen Kumar
+18 more V Senthil K. Reddy, N Manjunatha, Sundarnag Ganjekar, A Rashmi, Srinivas Balachander, Keshav Kumar, Lekhansh Shukla, Aruna R. M. Kapanee, Nitin K. Anand, Ajay Kumar, Himani Kashyap, Anish V. Cherian, E. Aravind Raj, R Dhanasekara Pandian, K. Thennarasu, Venkatesha Murthy Pj, Girish N. Rao, Vivek Benegal
DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_76_26
Cited by: 2
References: 16

Abstract

Background: Measuring disability is one of the primary objectives of India's National Mental Health Survey-2 (NMHS-2). The survey required a scale that was short, free to use, culturally flexible, administrable by lay-interviewers, and measuring disability aligned with the current understanding of mental disorders. Aim: Lacking a scale meeting these requisites, the NIMHANS-NMHS-2 Disability Scale (NNDS) was developed as a new adult disability scale. This manuscript reports on its development and validation. Methods: Nineteen items across six domains were generated by desk review. Content validation conducted by 16 Consultants at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences led to removal of six items (Content Validity Index

Fields of Study & Subjects

Mental Health Treatment and Access Down syndrome and intellectual disability research Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Volume
68
Issue
2
Pages
137–145
Publication date
1 February 2026
Language
EN