Rating scales validated for Sri Lankan populations: 2025 review with emerging insights

In Sri Lanka, the use of psychiatric rating scales has expanded, and many tools require cultural adaptation to ensure accuracy and relevance. We examined rating scales related to mental health and psychiatry translated, adapted, and validated for Sinhala and Tamil-speaking populations from 2020 to 2025 through a literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and the PGIM dissertation repo-sitory. 52 scales were identified covering a wide range of psychosocial domains including mood disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, stigma, resilience, and quality of life. Seven scales were developed locally to meet unique cultural and clinical needs, while five were validated for Tamil-speaking groups. Most validation studies utilized rigorous psychometric methods, demonstrating measurement properties ranging from acceptable to excellent.