Arabic validation and adaptation of the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP-A) in university students: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: The Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) is a brief cognitive screening tool that assesses domains commonly affected in psychiatric populations. Despite its international use, no Arabic version has been available. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Arabic version (SCIP-A) in a healthy adult sample. Methods: Following a standardized forward-backward translation and expert committee review, 120 healthy university students (60 male, 60 female) completed the SCIP-A in two sessions 48 h apart, using counterbalanced combinations of its three alternate forms. Psychometric properties were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (test-retest reliability), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (construct validity). A repeated measures ANOVA was also conducted to examine the concurrent effects of time, gender, and alternate forms. Results: = 0.071) and strong overall fit indices (e.g., CFI = 0.975; SRMR = 0.038). The three alternate forms were found to be equivalent. While minor gender effects were noted on some subtests, performance improvements upon re-administration suggested small practice effects. Conclusion: The SCIP-A shows sound psychometric properties and form equivalence in a healthy young adult sample. Given its brevity, ease of administration, and availability of alternate forms designed to mitigate practice effects, the SCIP-A appears to be a promising and practical tool for cognitive screening in Arabic-speaking contexts, pending further validation in broader populations.