This study applied a two‐phase, mixed‐methods research design, grounded in cultural consensus theory (CCT), to examine shared beliefs about mental health held by Japanese clinical psychologists (CPs). In CCT, qualitative methods are first used to identify culturally salient elements of a domain; factor analysis is then used to quantify the degree of sharedness, an approach known as cultural consensus analysis (CCA). First, a free‐listing technique with 16 Japanese CPs was conducted to elicit salient terms for the two domains: (a) how members of the general public acquire beliefs about mental health; and (b) how Japanese mental healthcare ought to be reformed. In the second phase, CCA was conducted through a survey completed by 100 CPs. The free‐listing analysis generated 21 and 23 culturally salient terms for the two domains, respectively. Then, CCA demonstrated that the two domains could each be characterized as a single cultural model with a high degree of consensus. CCT provides a systematic mixed‐methods approach that is particularly well‐suited to investigating culturally grounded shared beliefs held by people in a specific cultural context.

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This study evaluated the reliability and validity of a Japanese version of Pain Disability Index (PDI). Analyses were conducted on a 7-item version (PDI-J) and a 5-item (PDI-5-J version of the PDI). Using a web-based survey system, we recruited 300 individuals with chronic low back pain (lasting ≥3 months) and 300 individuals with chronic daily headache (lasting ≥15 days per month for 3 months) aged 20–64 years. Analyses revealed a one-factor with goodness-of-fit indices assessed by confirmatory factor analysis. For concurrent validity, we calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficients among the PDI-J, PDI-5-J, Pain Disability Assessment Scale, Pain numerical rating scale, and revised version of Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach’s α, and test–retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlations (ICCs) in 100 of 600 participants a week after the first response. Both Japanese adaptations of the PDI demonstrated good concurrent validity and reliability (Cronbach’s α was 0.89 for PDI-J in chronic low back pain or chronic daily headache, and 0.94 and 0.93 for PDI-5-J in chronic low back pain and chronic daily headache, respectively). The PDI-J and PDI-5-J showed were highly correlated (r = 0.98). ICCs were 0.67 and 0.59 for the PDI-J and 0.59 and 0.63 for the PDI-5-J in chronic low back pain and chronic daily headache, respectively. In conclusion, these two PDI versions can be potentially used for evaluating pain-related interference with daily activities among the Japanese general population.