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Table 1 Top five most relevant symptoms per condition as rated by mental health experts (N = 25)

From: Improving detection of mental health problems in community settings in Nepal: development and pilot testing of the community informant detection tool

Depression

Symptom (English)

Symptom (Nepali idioms)

Relevance rating, Mean (SD)

1. Depressed mood

To become depressed or sad for a very long time; “udaas wa niraas hunu,” “lamo samayasamma/nirantar roopma dukhi hunu,” “man a -dukhnu,”- “man bhari hunu,” “man khinna hunu,” “birakta lagnu”

2.84 (0.47)

2. May attempt suicide

Attempts of suicide or self-harm; “aatma hatya garna khojne,” “afailai haani honey kriyakalap garne”

2.71 (0.56)

3. Disturbed sleep

Not being able to sleep at night or restlessness; “nindra nalagne,” “nindrama gadbadi,” “nidauna garho huney”

2.70 (0.637)

4. Life is not worth living

Sees no point or meaning in living, feels that life is worthless; “baachna man nalagne,” “jiwan bekaar lagne,” “bachnako kunai saar/artha chaina jasto lagne”

2.74 (0.44)

5. Anger and irritability

Easily angered or irritated or frustrated over trivial matters; “sa-sana kurama ris uthne,” “jharko lagne,” “dikka lagne”

2.68 (0.56)

Alcohol use problems

1. Slurred speech

Slurred/unclear speech; “boli larbaraune,” “boli bujhna nasakne,” “prasta boli nahune”

2.86 (0.35)

2. Uninhibited behavior

Acts or speaks on their own will, unashamed; “man lagyo tyehi garne/bolne,” “laaj namanne”

2.86 (0.35)

3. Drinks alcohol frequently

Drinks too often; “barambaar jaad-rakshi piune”

2.82 (0.39)

4. Difficulties in controlling alcohol use

Not able to stop or control once drinking starts, strong urge to drink alcohol all the time; “jaad-rakshi khana thalepachi rokna nasakne wa afailai niyantran garna nasakne,” “jaad-rakshi matra khairahana man lagne/khairahane”

2.78 (0.51)

5. Smell of alcohol on breath

Strong smell of alcohol on breath most of the time; “sadhai jaso jaad-rakshi ko gandha aaune”

2.76 (0.52)

Psychosis

1. Incoherent or irrelevant speech

Others could not comprehend what they say, irrelevant speech, says whatever they like; “boleko kura aruharule bujhna nasakne,” “aasandharbhik kura bolne wa j payo tyehi bolne”

2.92 (0.40)

2. Withdrawal, agitation, disorganized behavior

Withdrawal, prefers to stay alone, shows irrelevant or disorganized behavior or activities; “chutiyera basne/eklai basna ruchaune,” “manma ashanti huney,” “asandharbhik/aabewasthit bewahar tatha kriyakalap garne”

2.84 (0.37)

3. Difficult to stop or talk to

Talks too much and difficult to stop; “boleko bolekai garne,” “bolna bata rokna garho huney”

2.76 (0.43)

4. Social withdrawal and neglect of usual activities

Social withdrawal, neglect of usual activities (such as work, school, neglect of family or social responsibilities); “samajik kriyakalapharu bata alaggiyera basne,” “dainik kriyakalapharu prati bewastha garne”

2.70 (0.47)

5. Hallucinations

Hears sound that others cannot hear; “waripari kehi nahuda pani kohi boleko wa kehi awaaz sunne”

2.68 (0.55)

Child behavioral problem

1. Frequent and severe temper tantrums

Easily angered, loses temper over trivial things; “chado sa-sana kurama dherai jhokkiney, risaune”

2.81 (0.40)

2. Excessive talking or noisiness

Talks often, very noisy, can’t sit without talking; “dherai bolne,” “dherai halla garne,” “naboli basna nasakne”

2.76 (0.43)

3. Running away from home

Running away from home; “ghar bata bhagne”

2.71 (0.46)

4. Over-activity (excessive for the context or situation)

Too mobile, restlessness or cannot stay in one place; “ekdumai chali rahane wa daudirahane,” “chaatpatayeko jasto huney,” “shaanta bhayera basna nasakne,” “dherai chuk-chuk garne”

2.70 (0.55)

5. Truancy from school

Absenteeism/does not attend school regularly; “bidhalaya anupasthit huney, aniyamit roopma janey”

2.68 (0.64)

  1. a man-See Kohrt, B. A., & Harper, I. (2008). Navigating diagnoses: Understanding mind–body relations, mental health, and stigma in Nepal. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 32(4), 462