Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Research Articles

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction in Women With HIV.

HIV induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with HIV (WWH). Although psychosocial stress has been implicated in the development of CVD in HIV, its impact on ED in WWH remains unknown. The authors hypothesized that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and HIV interact to contribute to ED in WWH. We enrolled 87 women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study in Atlanta, Georgia, who reported previous trauma and completed the PTSD Checklist: Civilian Version (PCL-C), which assesses PTSD symptom severity (PCL-C score) and PTSD status (PCL-C >44). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured to assess endothelial function. The impact of PTSD, HIV, and their interaction on endothelial function was evaluated using linear regression models adjusted for demographics, CVD risk factors, depressive symptoms, and statin use. Overall, 55 (63.2%) had HIV, 24 (27.5%) had PTSD, and 13 (14.9%) had both. Those with PTSD were more likely to smoke (18 [75%] vs 28 [44.4%], P=0.02) and have depressive symptoms (14 [58.3%] vs 18 [28.6%], P=0.02) than those without PTSD. In adjusted models, the HIV-PTSD (severity and status) interaction effect on FMD was significant (P=0.01). Both PTSD severity (β per 10-point increase:-0.72% [95% CI: -1.22 to-0.21], P=0.01) and PTSD status (β:-2.51% [95%CI: -4.21 to-0.77], P=0.01) were independently associated with lower FMD in WWH but not in those without HIV. PTSD is independently associated with ED in WWH. Whether treatment for PTSD improves ED and CVD in WWH needs further study.

Centering prayer in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event. A significant proportion of sexual assault survivors develop PTSD. Research indicates that 75% of sexual assault survivors meet the criteria for PTSD one month after the assault. PTSD treatment combines psychotherapy, medication, hypnosis, meditation, and emerging therapies to help individuals manage trauma-related symptoms and regain control over their lives. Nonetheless, despite advances in PTSD treatments, there remains a pressing need for new approaches to address gaps in current care. We recently demonstrated that centering praying (CP) is useful in treating Parkinson’s disease. Objective: To treat female patients complaining of PTSD due to sexual abuse or rape with CP. Methods: We will develop a randomized controlled trial studying five females from 18 to 35 years old who complain of PTSD due to sexual abuse or rape. Five women paired in an age without any neurological, psychiatric, or systemic disorder will be the control group. Patients will be randomly selected blindly according to the DSM-5 criteria by two neurologists. Comorbid major psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, or severe medical conditions will be excluded. Each patient and the control subjects will be studied by computer tomography to exclude any neurological condition. Outcome Measures will be the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the quantitative computer tomography (QEEGt). Secondary outcomes will be the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) to assess depression specifically, Results: Demographic data showed a significant improvement in patients’ clinical condition assessed by PLC-5 and PHQ-9 after CP treatment. QEEGt records demonstrated a stable pattern in all five patients: an increase of theta activity (4–8 Hz) in the left parietal-temporal-occipital areas of PTSD patients. Figure 3 shows a grand average of the five patients, demonstrating an important augmentation of theta activity in this region. Z-values in the QEEGt map show a progressive decrement of the statistically significant Theta increment above our normative data as long as the CP treatment progresses. Conclusion: We conclude that CP appears to offer a distinct and accessible pathway for managing PTSD, promoting emotional regulation, resilience, and a sense of inner peace rooted in spirituality.

Exploring the Unidimensionality of the GAD-7 for South African First Responders: Evidence from Multiple Psychometric Approaches

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition and the GAD-7 is widely used as a screening tool and measure of GAD severity. However, research has yielded conflicting findings regarding the factor structure of the instrument, with some studies supporting a unidimensional interpretation while others suggest a two-factor solution. These inconsistencies highlight the importance of validating the GAD-7 across diverse populations. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties and factor structure of the GAD-7 among South African first responders (n = 429). Participants completed a demographic questionnaire along with the GAD-7, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, and subscales from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, namely Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization. The dimensionality of the GAD-7 was examined using Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA), parallel analysis, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with a Schmid-Leiman transformation. Results supported the unidimensionality of the GAD-7. MSA indicated that all items were loaded onto a single scale, with strong inter-item correlations and a high H-coefficient. The parallel analysis confirmed that only one factor was necessary, and the Schmid-Leiman transformation extracted a general factor accounting for 84% of the item variance. Furthermore, the reliability of the GAD-7 was excellent, with alpha and omega coefficients exceeding 0.90, indicating high internal consistency. The strong reliability and validity of the GAD-7 in this study reinforce its utility as a reliable tool for assessing generalized anxiety in a non-clinical setting.

Rethinking gender differences: An investigation of comorbid psychopathology and alcohol use disorder in veterans.

While men have been found to drink more alcohol and have higher rates of alcohol-related mortality, women tend to experience higher rates of alcohol-related consequences, including psychological comorbidities and worse alcohol use disorder (AUD) outcomes. However, gender differences in comorbid psychopathology and associations with AUD outcomes among veterans are less well understood. Veterans (N = 126; 32 women) receiving inpatient treatment for AUD completed baseline clinical measures including the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Early Life Stress Questionnaire, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Alcohol use was assessed with the Timeline Followback for the 90 days prior to the baseline assessment and again at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Gender differences in baseline alcohol and psychopathology measures were examined using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Linear/logistic regression was used to examine associations between comorbid psychopathology and alcohol relapse/use severity post-study. Consistent with prior literature, statistically significant gender differences in psychopathology were observed, with women reporting higher anxiety (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.001), early life stress (p < 0.001), and PTSD (p < 0.001) at baseline. Higher early life stress was also associated with higher anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Statistically significant gender differences were not observed for alcohol use in the 90 days prior to the study. Similarly, gender was not associated with relapse or severity of use at 1-, 3-, or 6-month follow ups (ps > 0.05). Psychopathology measures were not associated with relapse or severity of use at any time point (ps > 0.05). Our study highlights that women veterans are drinking similar quantities of alcohol to men, supporting emerging evidence of a narrowing gender gap in alcohol use. Women also have a higher psychiatric burden than men; thus, identifying ways to mitigate comorbidity among women veterans should be a health priority.

The status and influencing factors of death anxiety among Chinese college students under the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTo comprehend the current state of death anxiety among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyze its influencing factors, and provide recommendations for mitigating death anxiety among these students.MethodsFrom March to May 2023, utilizing a cluster sampling method, students from three universities in Changzhou, Jiangsu, were selected as research participants. The investigation employed a general information questionnaire, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Chinese Version Templer-Death Anxiety Scale (CT-DAS), and the brief version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors influencing death anxiety among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsThe total average score of death anxiety among the college students in this study was 44.35 ± 8.21. There was a positive correlation between death anxiety scores and both PTSD symptoms scores and neuroticism (r = 0.134, 0.255, both P < 0.01), and a negative correlation between death anxiety scores and extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and age (r=-0.135, -0.049, -0.172, -0.093, all P < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that gender, age, place of origin, COVID-19 infection, PTSD symptoms scores, neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness were significant factors influencing death anxiety among college students (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsDeath anxiety among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic is relatively high and is associated with gender, age, place of origin, COVID-19 infection, PTSD symptoms scores, and personality traits. Appropriate intervention strategies can be formulated based on these influencing factors.

Randomized clinical trial of peer integrated collaborative care intervention after physical injury

ObjectivesThe goal of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of a peer integrated collaborative care intervention for postinjury outcomes.MethodsInjury survivors ≥18 years of age were screened for post-traumatic...

Firearm injury survivors report extreme high risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes early after hospital discharge necessitating multidisciplinary care

BackgroundUp to 20–40% of survivors of any traumatic injury develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression after injury. Firearm injury survivors may be at even higher risk for adverse outcomes....

Impact of Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with exposure to traumatic events, especially in the military setting. However, patients who experience stroke may develop anxiety about their stroke event and may re-experience transient neurological symptoms as a result. A significant portion develop the persistent and disabling symptoms of PTSD. At the University of South Florida, we conducted a single-center, IRB-approved, observational pilot study of 20 adult patients who were diagnosed with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the previous 31days to 1year. Patients completed the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Stroke specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL-12), Modified Rankin Scale of disability (mRS), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and provided blood and saliva samples. All 20 subjects completed the PCL-5 and 19 subjects completed the follow up scales. Seven patients (35%) were found to have Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PS-PTSD). Higher PCL-5 scores were significantly correlated with lower SS-QOL scores indicating worse quality of life (r = -0.709, P = .001) and higher PHQ-9 scores representing symptoms of depression (r = 0.727, P < 0.001). Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PS-PTSD) is prevalent after stroke and TIA with patients experiencing concurrent depressive symptoms, correlating with a worsened quality of life.

Prognostic models for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following traumatic brain injury: a CENTER-TBI study

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We aimed to identify predictors and develop models for the...

Moderating factors in psilocybin-assisted treatment affecting mood and personality: A naturalistic, open-label investigation.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is increasingly applied within mental health treatment. This study focused on factors moderating changes in the acute and long-term effects of an individual psilocybin-assisted program on depression, anxiety, PTSD and personality structures by including demographic factors, subjective experience and degree of mystical type experiences during the dosing, as well as emotional breakthrough and personal growth after the program. At baseline, 1 week and 3 months after the psilocybin program participants completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3 (NEO-FFI-3). In addition, after the dosing the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ-30), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and Emotional Breakthrough Inventory (EBI) were administered. Moderation effects were established using linear mixed-model analysis. A single high dose of psilocybin in combination with therapy was found to lower symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and neuroticism over a period of 3-months. Scores on openness and conscientiousness increased after the treatment only. Participants reported mystical type experiences, emotional breakthrough and personal growth. These subjective experiences together with demographic factors were moderating the observed positive changes. Findings indicate that individual psilocybin-assisted therapy has the potential for beneficial effects on mood and personality characteristics. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of subjective experiences and demographic factors in moderating this effect. This study adds to the ongoing research onpsilocybin-assisted therapy by investigating contributing factors for optimizing this evolving type of therapy.

Correlates of mental health of people living with HIV co-infected with SARS-CoV-2: findings from the COVIDHIV study in France.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected vulnerable populations, especially individuals living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The convergence of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 presents unique challenges, exacerbating existing health concerns and magnifying the strain on individuals already grappling with compromised immune systems. This study aimed to investigate the mental well-being repercussions faced by PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France. COVIDHIV is a French multicenter cohort of PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, which collected sociodemographic, clinical, and mental health data. Anxiety and depression symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes at inclusion in the cohort. Of the 397 participants included, 64.7% were male. The mean age was 51.6 (± 11.8) years. The prevalence of mental health outcomes was 33.5% ([95%CI: 28.5-39.0%]) for anxiety, 21.0% ([16.8-25.9%]) for depression, and 12.2% ([8.9-16.5%]) for PTSD. In multivariable regression adjusted for sex, COVID-19 wave and duration between COVID-19 confirmation and enrolment, age (adjusted odds-ratio (aOR): 0.97 [0.95-0.99]), being professionally active (0.43 [0.25-0.75]), and the number of self-reported symptoms (1.17 [1.11-1.24]) were associated with anxiety. Being professionally active (0.34 [0.18-0.65]), living in a couple (0.52 [0.20-0.98]), number of self-reported symptoms (1.15 [1.08-1.22]), and hospitalization for COVID-19 (3.35 [1.34-8.33]) were associated with depression. The number of self-reported symptoms (1.27 [1.16-1.41]), psychiatric disorders (4.04 [1.48-11.11]), and perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 (4.53 [1.69-14.60]) were associated with PTSD. The mental health is a challenging issue among the participants and needs to be closely monitored among people already affected by a chronic disease such as HIV. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted support and interventions tailored to address the mental health needs of PLWHA facing the dual burden of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.

An intersectional examination of the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and psychotic-like experiences: the role of other psychiatric symptoms.

Racial and ethnic experiences of discrimination (EODs) are associated with numerous psychiatric symptoms, including outcomes along the psychosis spectrum; however, less is known about mechanisms by which EODs confer risk for psychotic-like experiences (PLEs; common subthreshold psychotic symptoms). Furthermore, work on gendered racism asserts that the intersection of race and gender impacts the nature of EODs experienced and, in turn, may impact the relationship between EODs and PLEs. To utilize an intersectional lens (race and gender) to examine whether psychological correlates of EODs (post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and dissociation) mediate the EOD-PLE relationship. Undergraduates at a diverse, semipublic university (N=1,759) completed self-report questionnaires (Experiences of Discrimination Scale, Prodromal Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Dissociative Experiences Scale, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version). Analyses stratified the sample by race (non-Hispanic White, Black, and Asian) and examined three multiple mediation models, moderated by gender, examining the pathway from EODs to PLEs, through other psychiatric symptoms. In the full sample, all psychiatric symptoms significantly mediated the relationship between EODs and PLEs. Only depression varied by gender, such that the indirect effect was only significant in female participants (β=0.09; 95% CI [0.02, 0.16]). Across race-stratified groups, significant mediators varied by both race and gender. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for intersectionality and multiple psychological symptoms in understanding the EOD-PLE associations, which differ by race and ethnicity as well as gender, and should be considered in clinical treatment of individuals with PLEs and history of EODs.

Mood disorders after COVID-19 infection: a single-center experience.

The present study aimed to examine mood disorders in patients discharged from the hospital due to Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). The study included patients who were admitted to Akdeniz University with the diagnosis of COVID-19. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-5), and Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories were administered to the patients at least 30 days after discharge. A total of 215 patients were included. The median age was 56 years, and 60.9%(131) were male. There was no statistically significant difference in mood disorders scale scores between male and female. However, there was a weak negative correlation between age and PCL-5 scores (rho: -0.157, p: 0.021). The depression scores (p < 0.001), anxiety scores (p < 0.001) and PCL-5 (p = 0.001) scores were statistically significantly higher in patients with respiratory symptoms at the time of enrollment (after a mean duration of 87.9 days following discharge). Married individuals had statistically significantly lower anxiety, depression, and PCL-5 scores. Beck anxiety scores were statistically significantly higher in patients receiving systemic steroid. A substantial portion of patients with COVID-19 suffer from mood disorders after hospital discharge. Those patients with residual symptoms who live alone and receive corticosteroid represent a vulnerable population.

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health.

This study provides a descriptive overview of the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada, across sociodemographic characteristics, mental health-related variables and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were obtained from cycles 1 and 2 of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH), collected in fall 2020 (N = 14 689) and spring 2021 (N = 8032). The prevalence of PTSD was measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Cross-sectional associations were quantified using logistic regression, while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The overall prevalence of PTSD was 6.9%. Factors associated with higher PTSD prevalence were female gender; younger age; lower income (females only); living in an urban area; frontline worker status or not being at work in the past week (males only); fair or poor mental health; a weak sense of community belonging; symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; suicidal ideation; heavy alcohol use; daily cannabis use; increased alcohol and cannabis use since the start of the pandemic; decreased alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic (males only); concerns about violence in the home; and negative impacts of the pandemic. PTSD prevalence in Canada varies significantly across sociodemographic groups and is more common among those with indicators of lower mental health and well-being, as well as those more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing and enhanced surveillance of PTSD in Canada is important to better understand and address the burden and impacts of this condition.

Styles of Delivering News About a Child's Cancer and Parents' PTSD Symptoms.

Receiving a child's cancer diagnosis is a highly traumatic experience for parents, often leading to significant psychological distress, including symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The way healthcare professionals deliver this news can affect the severity of parents' reactions. While some research examines communication style's impact on patients, few studies focus on its effects on parents. This study explores the relationship between the communication style used by oncologists when delivering a child's cancer diagnosis and the subsequent levels of PTSD symptoms, mental resilience, and self-efficacy in parents. One hundred twenty eight parents of children diagnosed with cancer participated. Data were collected using the Styles of Communicating Questionnaire (SCQ), PTSD Checklist for DSM-V (PCL-5), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISK), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationship between communication style and psychological outcomes. Parents who perceived the oncologist's communication style as more activating (clear, structured, and action-oriented) reported significantly lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of resilience and self-efficacy. The perception of empathy played a crucial role, particularly when physicians balanced emotional and cognitive empathy. This balance was linked to better psychological outcomes in parents. The study highlights the critical role of communication style in mitigating the psychological impact of a child's cancer diagnosis on parents. Training healthcare providers to balance cognitive and emotional empathy in communication may reduce PTSD symptoms and enhance resilience and self-efficacy in parents, ultimately improving their psychological well-being during such a challenging time.

Description of Potential PTSD in Students Surviving Covid-19 at the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University

Introduction. The Covid-19 pandemic has become a potentially traumatic event that can trigger the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially in Covid-19 survivors. The study found that college students (aged 16 to 25 years) are at the most significantly risk for exposure to potentially traumatic events. Aim. To describe the potential for PTSD in students who survived Covid-19 at the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University. Method. This research is a descriptive study with a case-control design. A total of 167 student survivors of Covid-19 participate in the study. Data were obtained by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) questionnaire digitally. Result. The study found that 18% of Covid-19 survivor students at the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University had the potential to experience PTSD. The potential for PTSD is more susceptible to being experienced by male Covid-19 survivor students (30.4%), younger age, experienced clinical symptoms of moderate illness Covid-19 (29,2%), and hadn’t a history of mental disorders (100%). Alterations in mood and cognition symptoms domain are the most dominant symptoms of PTSD experienced by study subjects with potential PTSD. Most study subjects with potential PTSD don’t experience stressors like life-threatening events, exposure to news about Covid-19, or social isolation. Conclusion. There were student survivors of Covid-19 at the Faculty of Medicine at Andalas University have potentially PTSD.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Military Personnel with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Example of Ukraine

Introduction: Given the current events of the Russian-Ukrainian war, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychological problems among military personnel, which requires the introduction and use of new techniques of psychological rehabilitation.Objectives: The study aims to develop and test a comprehensive programme for psychological rehabilitation of military personnel and determine its effectiveness.Methods: The study was conducted among 30 military respondents diagnosed with PTSD. The experiment used pre-test and post-test data from participants at three different time points: pre-intervention, two weeks post-intervention, and four months post-intervention—main instruments: Military PTSD Checklist and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). For mental health assessment, 3 scientifically validated indicators were used for data analysis: PCL-M, PHQ-9, and GAD-7.Results: The results demonstrate the need to implement a comprehensive psychological rehabilitation programme for military personnel. If, at the beginning of the test, they were diagnosed with PTSD, acute depression and anxiety, then after two weeks of implementing the comprehensive programme, the indicators decreased significantly. After 4 months, the scores rose slightly but not significantly. This demonstrates the relevance and importance of using various activities to support the psychological state of military personnel who have experienced difficult and traumatic periods. Conclusions: The conclusions summarise that recovery from PTSD requires a comprehensive approach that should consider the internal and external characteristics of each patient

Which PTSD clusters and symptoms are central to reducing suicidal ideation? A network and cross-lagged analysis among individuals receiving cognitive processing therapy

ABSTRACT Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and SI tends to improve over the course of evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. However, it remains unclear which PTSD clusters and symptoms are central to changes in SI throughout treatment. Objective: To use (1) network analysis to identify the PTSD clusters and symptoms most uniquely related to SI (at baseline and post-treatment); and (2) cross-lagged analyses to examine whether these PTSD clusters and symptoms prospectively predicted decreases in SI over the course of cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Method: Participants were 188 individuals with PTSD receiving CPT as part of an implementation-effectiveness trial. At each session, DSM-IV PTSD clusters and symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist and SI was assessed using the Outcome Questionnaire-45. Results: Multi-staged cross-sectional network analyses indicated that at baseline and post-treatment the avoidance and reexperiencing clusters were uniquely associated with SI. Within these clusters, the symptoms uniquely associated with SI were recurrent thoughts and dreams of trauma, restricted range of affect, and sense of foreshortened future at baseline; and sense of foreshortened future, restricted range of affect, recurrent dreams of trauma, feelings of detachment from others, memory impairment, avoidance of reminders of trauma, and psychological cue reactivity at post-treatment. Multilevel cross-lagged analyses indicated that the avoidance cluster and the restricted range of affect and sense of foreshortened future symptoms, uniquely predicted next-session decreases in SI. Conclusions: These findings suggest that reductions in SI within treatment may be due to direct targeting of avoidance, affect, and future-related cognitions. Further research remains necessary to determine whether the present findings extend to DSM-5 PTSD clusters and symptoms.

On the concordance between CAPS-5 and PCL-5 scores

ABSTRACT Background: As reported in this journal, Resick and colleagues (2023) investigated discrepancies between scores from two widely used PTSD measures: the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5; Weathers et al., 2013) and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013), a clinician-rated structured interview and a self-rated questionnaire, respectively. Using data from four clinical trials of active-duty military personnel and veterans, the authors replicated the common finding that PCL-5 scores are higher than CAPS-5 scores. They then examined item response distributions, finding that ratings on the PCL-5 were more evenly distributed across all five options whereas specific CAPS-5 scores were used relatively infrequently. Concluding that this finding indicates a problem that should be addressed, they offered suggestions for revising anchors and items to improve correspondence between the two measures. Objective: The results are informative and the nature and size of the sample are well-suited to this important research question. However, we have a number of concerns and comments about this paper. Conclusion: In our view, the authors mischaracterized the CAPS-5 and PCL-5 in several important ways, resulting in some erroneous conclusions about their findings and the expected nature of the relationship between the CAPS-5 and PCL-5. Given that these issues are vital to the field of traumatic stress, we felt compelled to address them and provide an alternative perspective.

Measurement invariance of the PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5 across eight countries and samples with diverse trauma experiences

AbstractThe PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5) is a well‐known tool for measuring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Although the tool has been translated into many different languages, only one study, conducted in European countries, has examined measurement invariance (MI) across these versions. The present study aimed to verify PCL‐5 MI in eight countries: Argentina, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Poland, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All samples included at least 200 participants. Regarding trauma type, the highest number of individuals reported experiencing a traffic accident (n = 3,128) and/or physical assault (n = 2,609), and the fewest reported captivity (n = 575) and/or contributing to someone else's harm, injury, or death (n = 559). A symptom structure model based on DSM‐5 criteria showed a satisfactory fit to the data, χ2(164, N = 4,064) = 2,571.18, p &lt; .001, robust CFI = .931, robust RMSEA = .078, 90% CI [.075, .081], robust TLI = .920, SRMR = .037. Data fit and invariance were obtained with regard to identical structure and factor loadings (configural and metric invariance) as well as for the partial scalar invariance (equal intercepts). In all samples, PTSD symptoms were strongly or moderately positively correlated with levels of depressive, anxiety, and stress‐related symptoms and moderately or weakly positively correlated with COVID‐19–related stressors, emotional stability/neuroticism, and emotional reactivity. The results indicate that the PCL‐5 is a generally effective measure of universal indicators of PTSD across different countries.