Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MISO-S-J)

Background: Misophonia is characterized by heightened emotional and physiological responses to specific sounds made by others, such as chewing or sniffing. Although several scales have been developed to assess misophonia severity, few Japanese versions are currently available. This study developed a Japanese version of the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MISO-S-J), one of the most widely used instruments for assessing misophonia severity, and examined its reliability and validity for both research and clinical use in Japan.Methods: In Study 1, we surveyed 265 Japanese adults and evaluated factorial and criterion-related validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and correlations. In Study 2, 120 participants completed the A-MISO-S-J at two time points to assess test–retest reliability.Results: The CFA supported a one-factor structure for the A-MISO-S-J, demonstrating acceptable model fit and good internal consistency. Evidence of criterion-related validity was found, with moderate-to-strong positive correlations between A-MISO-S-J scores and scales measuring hyperacusis, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, disgust, and negative affect. Furthermore, approximately 76% of the participants reported at least mild symptoms, which is significantly higher than the prevalence rates reported in other countries. Study 2 demonstrated acceptable test–retest reliability of the A-MISO-S-J.Discussion: The A-MISO-S-J demonstrated good psychometric properties. It may serve as a useful tool for advancing understanding of misophonia symptoms in East Asian populations.