International Trauma Questionnaire Research Articles

Anxiety, distress tolerance, and the relationship between complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and alcohol use in veterans.

Little is known about whether distress tolerance and anxiety mediate the relationship between comorbid complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and alcohol use among military veterans. Here, we investigated the contribution of distress tolerance and anxiety on the strength of the CPTSD and alcohol use association. We hypothesized that the impact of a two-factor model of CPTSD derived from subscale scores on the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)-namely ITQ PTSD and ITQ Disturbances in Self Organization (DSO; e.g., issues with affective regulation/self-belief and shame)-on alcohol use severity would be mediated by anxiety but not by distress tolerance. Participants included 403 community-dwelling United Kingdom (UK) veterans (91.64% male, Mage = 51.15 years, SD = 12.48) recruited as part of a larger, online study. Findings indicated that the influence of CPTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity was mediated by anxiety, not by distress tolerance, with greater relative impact due to ITQ DSO status than ITQ PTSD status. We identified the mediational influence of anxiety and distress tolerance on the association between CPTSD subscales and alcohol use in UK veterans. Interventions for anxiety may be adapted for reducing problematic alcohol use and the impact of CPTSD symptoms in veterans with comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Sex Differences in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Network among Chinese Young Adults.

Evidence suggests that sex differences commonly occur in trauma-related disorders. The current study aims to explore sex differences in complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptom networks among Chinese young adults with childhood trauma. The current study utilized a representative sample of college students in Beijing and included 1416 participants (409 men and 907 women) who had childhood trauma experience. CPTSD symptoms were evaluated using the International Trauma Questionnaire. Regularized partial correlation network analysis and Bayesian network analysis were used to estimate the network structure and possible causality of CPTSD symptoms for both sexes. Male and female CPTSD symptom networks had differences in strength centrality and bridge centrality. Nightmares and feelings of failure had the highest strength centrality, and long-term upset and nightmares had the highest bridge centrality for men. Hypervigilance and feelings of failure had the highest strength centrality, and long-term upset and exaggerated startle response had the highest bridge centrality for women. The current study provides the first evidence of sex differences in the CPTSD symptom network among Chinese young adults with childhood trauma. Young men and women differed in highly central symptoms, which may speak to sex specificity in the main manifestations of CPTSD symptoms.

Changes in the networks of complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among Chinese college students with childhood trauma.

To advance understanding of the development of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms longitudinally and facilitate future treatments, the present study investigated changes in the network of CPTSD symptoms among Chinese college students with childhood trauma. A longitudinal study was conducted with college students, following them three times at 3-month intervals. CPTSD symptoms were measured using the International Trauma Questionnaire, and childhood trauma was assessed by the revised Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale. The final sample consisted of 294 participants with childhood trauma at baseline measurement (28.9% were males, Mage = 20.76 years). Comparisons of cross-sectional networks and cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis were performed to characterize the features and changes of interactions among CPTSD symptoms. Sense of failure and isolation were the core symptoms in the cross-sectional networks of CPTSD symptoms. The comparison of cross-sectional networks indicated that the global network strength was stable, and no node's strength centrality and only one edge weight changed significantly from Time 1 (T1) to Time 3 (T3). The findings of the CLPN model reveal that worthlessness, difficulties with intimacy, and flashbacks have the highest out-expected influence. In the T1-T3 network, the strongest edge was from worthlessness to sense of failure. Cross-sectional network analyses and comparisons revealed the characteristics of CPTSD networks at multiple time points, while the CLPN analysis identified the longitudinal dynamics of CPTSD symptoms. These provide insights for designing more targeted intervention plans for college students with childhood trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Initial validation of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) in a sample of Chilean adults

ABSTRACT Background: ICD-11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) are stress-related disorders. The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is a widely used instrument to assess PTSD and CPTSD. To date, there is no evidence of the psychometric characteristics of the ITQ in Latin American countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the construct and concurrent validity of the Latin American Spanish adaptation of the ITQ in a sample of Chilean adults. Methods: A sample of 275 Chilean young adults completed the ITQ, a traumatic life events checklist, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale short version. Four alternative confirmatory factor analysis models were tested. Correlation analyses were performed to determine concurrent validity with associated measures (number of reported traumatic events, number of adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk). Results: The second-order two-factor (PTSD and DSO) and the correlated first-order six-factor model provided acceptable fit; however, the first model showed a better fit based on the BIC difference. The PTSD and DSO dimensions, as well as the six ITQ clusters showed positive correlations with reported number of traumatic life-events, reported number of adverse childhood experiences, levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk. Conclusions: The ITQ Latin American Spanish adaptation provides acceptable psychometric evidence to assess PTSD and CPTSD in accordance with the ICD-11.

Associations between post-traumatic stress disorders and psychotic symptom severity in adult survivors of developmental trauma: a multisite cross-sectional study in the UK and South Korea

Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for the development of post-traumatic stress disorders and psychosis. However, the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including complex PTSD, and psychotic symptoms is unknown. We investigated whether the presence of PTSD and complex PTSD was associated with psychotic symptom severity within survivors of developmental trauma. As part of the Investigating Mechanisms underlying Psychosis Associated with Childhood Trauma (IMPACT) study, from Aug 20, 2020, to Jan 24, 2021, and from Sept 9, 2022, to Feb 21, 2023, using study advertisement on online platforms we recruited adult (≥18 years) participants who had experienced developmental trauma without a psychiatric diagnosis in the UK and South Korea. We measured whether participants met diagnostic thresholds for PTSD and complex PTSD using the self-reported International Trauma Questionnaire, and psychotic symptoms using the self-reported Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences. We used linear regression, adjusting for sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, and socioeconomic status, to examine whether there was an association between PTSD and complex PTSD and psychotic symptoms. The study is registered in the UK (University College London Research Ethics Committee [14317/001] and the National Health Service Research Ethics Committee [22/YH/0096]) and South Korea (Institutional Review Board of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital [B-2011-648-306]), and is ongoing. Of the 2675 participants who took part in the study, 1273 had experienced developmental trauma and were included in the study in the UK (n=475) and South Korea (n=798), comprising 422 (33%) men and 851 (67%) women with a mean age of 26·9 years (SD 6, range 18-40), mostly of White British (n=328) or South Korean (n=798) ethnicity. We found no significant association between PTSD and psychotic symptom severity (total severity β=-2·40 [SE 3·28], p=0·47), compared with participants who did not meet PTSD or complex PTSD caseness. We found a significant relationship between complex PTSD and psychotic symptom severity (total severity β=22·62 [SE 1·65], p<0·0001), including for positive (β=12·07 [SE 0·99], p<0·0001) and negative symptoms (β=10·5 [SE 0·95], p<0·0001), compared with participants who did not meet PTSD or complex PTSD caseness. Health systems must assess individuals with previous developmental trauma for complex PTSD and treat those affected. These individuals should also be assessed for psychotic symptoms, and if necessary, preventative measures should be taken to reduce risk of conversion. Further work should assess whether treating complex PTSD modifies the risk of conversion to psychosis. UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, British Medical Association Margaret Temple Award for Schizophrenia Research, and the National Research Foundation of Korea-Korea Government.

The Ukraine-Russia war: A symptoms network of complex posttraumatic stress disorder during continuous traumatic stress.

This study is aimed to test the symptoms network of International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms, using data collected from Ukrainian civilians during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war. Findings can inform our understanding of the stress response in individuals exposed to continuous trauma and give insight into the nature of CPTSD during the war. A network analysis was conducted on CPTSD symptoms as assessed by the International Trauma Questionnaire using data from a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Ukrainians. While PTSD and disturbances in self-organization clusters did not enmesh, several communities within these clusters were merged. Results highlight that in terms of strength centrality, emotional dysregulation (emotional numbing) and a heightened sense of threat (SoT) were most prominent. The results confirm the ICD-11 structure of CPTSD but suggest that continuous traumatic stress manifests in more condensed associations between CPTSD symptoms and that emotional regulation may play a vital role in activating the CPTSD network. War-exposed populations could be provided with scalable, brief self-help materials focused on fostering emotion regulation and an SoT. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Did Cognitive Attentional Syndrome Symptoms Predict Stress- and Trauma-Related Symptoms in the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Results from a Two-Wave Study on a Sample of Polish Internet Users.

According to metacognitive theory, Cognitive Attentional Syndrome (CAS) is a transdiagnostic factor and a main mechanism of psychopathology maintenance. The main goal of this study is to examine whether CAS predicted stress- and trauma-related symptomatology in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and three months later. Initially, 1792 participants were recruited online via social media; the data were collected at two time points. The measures included the Cognitive Attentional Syndrome Questionnaire, the Adjustment Disorder-New Module 20, the International Trauma Questionnaire, and additional measures. Structural equation modeling was conducted in order to determine the relations between the reported stressors, CAS, and symptomatology. At both time points, CAS was a significant mediator between the stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder. Despite the decrease in the intensity of adjustment disorder symptoms between waves, it was a significant predictor of other psychopathologies at both time points, except for traumatic stress. The findings confirm the assumption that CAS is a transdiagnostic factor of psychopathology and has a mediating role in the relationship between stressors and adjustment disorder and co-occurring symptomatology. The effect was particularly significant in the initial phase of the pandemic, which was highly stressful for many people.

Co-development of traumatic stress symptoms and externalising behaviour problems among foster children and the effect of complex trauma: a latent growth curve model

ObjectivesFoster children are disproportionately exposed to complex trauma, which may lead to multifaceted impairments that manifest in comorbid emotional and behavioural problems. As little is known about the interactions between...

Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology?

Several studies have shown the possible link between trauma and sleep disturbances, particularly in anxiety disorders. This issue could be because sympathetic hyperarousal is central to both disorders, probably caused by a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system. This study aimed to establish if the comorbidity with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) is associated with sleep disturbances in panic disorder (PD) and if the presence of poor sleep quality is associated with a higher psychopathological burden. Participants (N = 211) with PD completed the International Trauma Questionnaire concerning their most troubling experience, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances, respectively. The sample was divided into two subgroups based on the presence of cPTSD. No significant differences emerged in the bivariate analyses for what concerns sociodemographic features. As for the scores of the psychopathological scales, the analysis highlighted statistically significant differences between the subgroups. Subjects with cPTSD reported significantly higher HAM-A total scores. As for the disturbances in self-organization (DSO) and PSQI scores, these were all significantly higher in the cPTSD subsample. At the logistic regression, the presence of cPTSD was inserted as the dependent variable, while the PSQI scores of the subscales evaluating subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficacy, and the use of hypnotics were used as independent variables. The presence of cPTSD was significantly associated with the PSQI subscores for subjective sleep quality and use of hypnotics. Patients with PD exhibit more severe sleep disturbances and a higher anxiety burden when experiencing prolonged trauma. Therapeutic advances are needed in this field to target these symptomatologic domains.

"My brain freezes and I am blocked again": The subjective experience of post-migration living difficulties influenced by complex posttraumatic stress disorder of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Austria.

Potentially traumatic experiences and post-migration living difficulties (PMLDs) undoubtedly leave marks on mental health and psychosocial functioning. While PMLDs are recognised as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (described together here as C/PTSD), recent investigations have found that C/PTSD symptoms might also influence the experience of PMLDs. The subjective experience of and coping with PMLDs in the context of C/PTSD symptoms has not yet been explored. Semi-structured, interpreter-assisted interviews exploring the subjective experience of post-migration living difficulties were conducted with treatment-seeking Afghan refugees and asylum seekers (N = 24) and transcribed verbatim. Participants were screened using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) and allocated to a C/PTSD group or non-C/PTSD group. We analysed the qualitative interviews using content analysis and then compared the results of the two groups. Over half of the participants (58.3%) met the criteria for C/PTSD. While the two groups addressed numerous similar themes, the C/PTSD group more frequently mentioned themes associated with C/PTSD symptoms (e.g., intrusions, avoidance, sleep disturbances, affective dysregulation) that influenced their responses to PMLDs. The non-C/PTSD group more often experienced positive emotions such as gratitude and optimism, and showed more active, solution-oriented behaviour as well as positive self-verbalisation. To achieve a deeper understanding of PMLDs, post-traumatic psychopathology should be taken into account, as C/PTSD symptoms influence the experience of and coping with PMLDs. The specifics of individual experiences need to be considered in order to promote adaptive coping with PMLDs and to set individual trauma-focused and transdiagnostic treatment targets. In addition, psychological interventions should incorporate psychoeducation to improve the understanding of the impact of C/PTSD on the current experience of PMLDs.

Caseness and comorbidity of probable (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda: the role of social determinants

Numerous studies have been conducted among survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi on the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, thus far, no studies provide information on the frequency of comorbidity of these disorders, the prevalence of the new trauma-related diagnostic disorder known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and the role of social determinants, such as age, sex, marital status, employment category, education, and location, in the occurrence of these disorders. The present study was conducted to address these gaps. Genocide survivors ( N = 261 participants; M = 46.30, SD = 11.95, females = 52.9%) took part in the study. They completed the International Trauma Questionnaire, the Public Health Depression Questionnaire, and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses, bivariate analyses with two-tailed chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to determine the prevalence of the above-mentioned disorders, comorbidity, and the associations between the social determinants and the assessed psychopathologies. Of the total sample, 47.1% presented with at least one of the assessed probable mental health disorders: 15.3% ( n = 40) met the criteria for probable post-traumatic stress disorder, 15.3% ( n = 40) for probable complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and 38.7% ( n = 101) for probable depression. Of the participants with probable post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, nearly half met the criteria for probable depression. Being married but not living with the partner was associated with probable complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and unemployment was associated with probable depression. Our findings suggest to clinicians and policymakers that they should consider comorbidity and social determinants in their interventions.

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescence: A two-year follow-up study.

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder is a new diagnosis in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). There is a need for a better understanding of complex PTSD in children and adolescents. The study aimed to estimate the factors associated with chronic complex PTSD versus recovery of complex PTSD in adolescents in a 2-year follow-up study. In total, 66 adolescents, mean age 14.5, 73% female, identified as having complex PTSD using self-report at baseline recruited from a general population sample, were included in the study. The International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent Version (ITQ-CA) was used for the assessment of complex PTSD. Overall, 36% of the study sample has been identified as having chronic complex PTSD over 2years, 10% met the criteria for PTSD at a 2-year follow-up, and 54% recovered. A higher risk for chronic complex PTSD was associated with exposure to more traumatic events and more life-stressors over the 2years, low social network, low positive social support, bullying at school, and loneliness. The study found that around one-third of the traumatized youth had a prolonged trajectory of complex PTSD symptoms, which were associated with negative life experiences and social difficulties.

Investigating the DSM-5 and the ICD-11 PTSD symptoms using network analysis across two distinct samples.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has long been debated with a recent focus on the consequences of having two different diagnostic descriptions of PTSD (i.e., the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition [DSM-5] and the International Classification of Diseases-11th Edition [ICD-11]). Research has modeled PTSD as a network of interacting symptoms according to both diagnostic systems, but the relations between the two systems remain unclear regarding which symptoms are more central or interconnected. To answer this question, the present study is the first study to investigate the combined network structure of PTSD symptoms according to both systems using validated measurements (i.e., the International Trauma Questionnaire [ITQ] and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 [PCL-5] across two distinct trauma samples [a community sample, N = 2,367], and a military sample, N = 657). We estimated two Gaussian Graphical Models of the combined ICD-11 and DSM-5 PTSD symptoms across the two samples. Five of the six most central symptoms were the same across both samples. The results underline that a combination of five symptoms representing both diagnostic systems may hold central positions and potentially be important for treatment. However, the implications depend on if the different diagnostic descriptions can be reconciled in an indexical rather than constitutive perspective. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in Lithuanian university students: Prevalence and associations with trauma exposure.

Young adults are at high risk for developing mental disorders. Moreover, trauma exposure and trauma-related disorders in emerging adulthood are highly prevalent. The study aimed to explore the prevalence of traumatic experiences, probable ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), probable complex PTSD (CPTSD), and links between trauma exposure and traumatic stress reactions among first-year university students in Lithuania. In total, 1,626 university students from Lithuania, 68.2% female, mean age 19.09 (SD = 1.05) years, were recruited for the study. Probable ICD-11 PTSDs were measured using the self-report International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). A majority (77.2%) of young adults had been exposed to traumatic experiences. The prevalence of probable ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in the total sample was 4.6% and 3.4%, respectively. Both PTSD and CPTSD were associated with cumulative lifetime trauma experiences. CPTSD was related to sexual trauma, whereas PTSD was linked to single traumatic incidents, like a physical assault. Both probable PTSD and probable CPTSD were associated with physical and sexual abuse in childhood. The findings of our study show that nearly 8 in 10 university students were exposed to trauma at the beginning of their studies. The prevalence of probable PTSD/CPTSD was comparable to other studies conducted on the general population and university students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Male Infertility in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress is Associated with Increased Serum Lipid Concentration

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening events such as combat operations, terrorist attacks, accidents or violent physical attacks, rape, etc. Its prevalence is high and it very often occurs in comorbidity with other psychiatric and physical disorders. PTSD patients often exhibit dysregulated lipid metabolic profiles. The aim of the research was to determine the biochemical concentration of lipids (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL) in men with post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans of the war in Kosovo, who are being treated for infertility. Our study included 72 male patients with primary and secondary infertility. Patients with PTSD were permanent residents of the Dukagjin region (the cities of Pejë, Istog, Deçan, Klinë) in the Republic of Kosovo. Serum lipid concentrations were determined on the COBAS INTEGRA 400 plus apparatus. To determine male fertility, we analyzed the parameters of human ejaculation according to the latest manual (6th, WHO 2021). Criteria that must be met to confirm the diagnosis of PTSD. The following instruments were used in the research: ITQ (International Trauma Questionnaire). In patients with PTSD, the mean TC values were higher (6.38 ± 1.20) than the without PTSD group (5.28 ± 0.37) (p=0.018), the concentration of bad cholesterol, LDL was higher in PTSD patients than without PTSD patients (4.16 ± 0.31 vs. 3.65 ± 0.49) (p= 0.016), TG also had higher concentrations (2.43 ± 0.64 ) than without PTSD patients (1.78 ± 0.45), (p = 0.036). HDL in PTSD patients (1.17 ± 0.40) was significantly lower in without PTSD patients (2.47 ± 0.50) (p = 0.021). BMI had no statistically significant differences between the two groups; with PTSD and non-PTSD (26.2 vs 25.6) (p=0.430). In conclusion, biochemical analyzes of the lipid profile of PTSD patients will help clinicians to reduce the possibility of vascular disease in this population during the treatment of male infertility.

Exposure to potentially morally injurious events in U.K. health and social care workers during COVID-19: Associations with PTSD and complex PTSD.

Health and social care workers (HSCWs) have been shown to be at risk of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine associations between exposure to PMIEs and meeting threshold criteria for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and probable complex PTSD (CPTSD) in U.K. HSCWs immediately after the peak of the first COVID-19 wave. Frontline HSCWs from across the United Kingdom working in diverse roles in hospitals, nursing or care homes, and other community settings were recruited to the Frontline-COVID study via social media. Participants (n = 1,056) completed a cross-sectional online survey (May 27, 2020-July 23, 2020) which assessed exposure to PMIEs (nine-item Moral Injury Events Scale), and meeting symptom thresholds for probable PTSD and probable CPTSD (International Trauma Questionnaire). PMIEs related to witnessing others' wrongful actions and betrayal events were more commonly endorsed than perceived self-transgressions. The rate of probable International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) PTSD was 8.3%, and of probable ICD-11 CPTSD was 14.2%. Betrayal-related PMIEs were a significant predictor of probable PTSD or probable CPTSD, together with having been redeployed during the pandemic. The only variable that differentially predicted probable CPTSD as compared with probable PTSD was not having had reliable access to personal protective equipment; none of the PMIE types were differential predictors for screening positive for probable PTSD versus probable CPTSD. Exposure to PIMEs could be important for PTSD and CPTSD development. Interventions for moral injury in HSCWs should be investigated. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Investigating the latent structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire to assess ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD in an adult civilian sample during the Ukraine war.

The symptom structure of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) and the validity of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) are yet to be tested among civilians in an active war zone. The present investigation examined the factor structure of the ITQ, the internal consistency of observed scores, and their associations with demographic characteristics and war-related experiences using a nationwide sample of 2,004 adults from the general population of Ukraine approximately 6 months after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Overall, rates of endorsement across all symptom clusters were high. The mean total number of war-related stressors reported was 9.07 (SD = 4.35, range: 1-26). Internal reliability was good for all six ITQ subscales, Cronbach's αs = .73-.88, and the correlated six-factor model was found to provide the best representation of the latent structure of the ITQ in the present sample based on fit indices. There was evidence of a dose-response relationship, with increasing scores on all symptom clusters associated with higher total reported war-related stressors.

Sexological and traumatic aspects in reproductive difficulties: a psychometric study on couples seeking help for infertility.

To investigate the impact of infertility in gender differences on psycho-traumatological, sexological, relational and emotional aspects and gender differences in couples requiring assisted reproductive treatment. 151 couples were recruited with a mean age of 36.7 ± 4.8years for women and 39.8 ± 6.6f or men. 43% of women and 34% of men had already received the diagnosis of infertility. To recruited subjects was administered the following psychometric tests: Sexological and Emotional in Infertility questionnaire (SEIq), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), the Orgasmomether and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). There was a significant difference in traumatic symptoms between men and women (t = 5,859, p < 0.05). Gender differences were found in the sexological dimension of the SEIq (t = 7,858, p < .001) and in the total ASEX score (t = 3,979, p < .001). Specifically, significant correlations emerged between the ASEX domains and the emotional and sexological aspects related to infertility only in women. The reaction to the diagnosis was negatively correlated with the emotional area of ​​the couple (r = -0.683, p < .001) and positively with the couple relationship (r = 0.815, p < .001). Multiple regression revealed that the overall functioning of the couple, rather than the single scales, is the main predictor of sexuality (R2 = 0.77). A clear impact of infertility on the couple's psycho-traumatological, psycho-sexological and relational aspects emerged. It could be useful to promote targeted support interventions on the most compromised areas of couple functioning in assisted reproductive centers.

0672 Nightmare Disorder &amp; Insomnia Severity in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract Introduction Most adults experience a traumatic event at some point in their lifetime, and some also go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disorders such as insomnia and nightmares are common in PTSD, which may be due to hyperarousal and distressing memories that disrupt the sleep-wake cycle. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a new distinct diagnosis of PTSD that includes three new symptom domains: emotional dysregulation, negative self-cognitions, and interpersonal hardships. Despite evidence linking PTSD and sleep disturbances, this work has yet to be extended to C-PTSD. To address this gap, the current study examined the association between nightmares, insomnia, and C-PTSD symptoms, as well as explored gender and the time elapsed since the traumatic event as moderating variables. Methods Data were obtained from a sample of 243 trauma-exposed participants recruited online. Most participants identified as White (n = 207; 85%), non-Hispanic (n = 219; 90%), and female (n = 135; 56%), with an average age of 37.26 years (SD = 11.39). The Complex Trauma Inventory (CTI) and International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) were utilized to measure C-PTSD symptoms. Results Greater C-PTSD symptoms measured via the CTI were associated with greater insomnia symptoms (b = 3.22, 95% CI [2.46, 3.97]) and nightmare disorder symptoms (b = 2.14, 95% CI [1.57, 2.72]). Similarly, greater C-PTSD symptoms measured via the ITQ were also associated with greater insomnia symptoms (b = 0.28, 95% CI [0.22, 0.34]) and nightmare disorder symptoms (b = 0.18, 95% CI [0.13, 0.23]). No moderating effects of gender or time elapsed since trauma were found. Conclusion Results underscore that C-PTSD symptoms are strongly linked to nightmares and problems falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up too early—regardless of a person’s gender identity or how long ago they experienced a traumatic event. Findings may inform more targeted, sleep-focused cognitive-behavioral treatments for C-PTSD. Support (if any)

Risk factors, comorbidity and social impairment of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in Danish treatment-seeking military veterans

PurposeWhile a number of studies have investigated risk factors and comorbidities of ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) in various trauma exposed samples, few studies have been conducted in military samples. Existing studies with military samples have included rather small samples. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors and comorbidities of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a large sample of previously deployed, treatment-seeking soldiers and veterans. Methods: Previously deployed, treatment-seeking Danish soldiers and veterans (N = 599), recruited from the Military Psychology Department of the Danish Defense, completed the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), as well as questionnaires of common mental health difficulties, trauma exposure, functioning and demographics. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis explored differences in self-reported exposure to adversity and health outcomes between those meeting ICD-11 criteria for probable PTSD, CPTSD and no trauma disorder. Results: A total of 13.0% met probable ICD-11 criteria for PTSD and 31.4% for CPTSD. Risk factors for CPTSD (compared to those with no trauma disorder) included exposure to warfare or combat, longer duration since the traumatic event and being single. Those with CPTSD were more likely than those with PTSD or no trauma disorder to endorse symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, use of psychotropic medication, and suicide attempts. Conclusion: CPTSD is a more common and debilitating condition compared to PTSD in treatment-seeking soldiers and veterans. Further research should focus on testing existing and novel interventions for CPTSD in the military.