The structure of ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in adolescents exposed to potentially traumatic experiences

Evaldas Kazlauskas; Paulina Zelviene; Ieva Daniunaite; Philip Hyland; Monika Kvedaraite; Mark Shevlin; Marylene Cloitre

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.061

The structure of ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in adolescents exposed to potentially traumatic experiences

J Affect Disord. 2020 Mar 15:265:169-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.061. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Authors

Evaldas Kazlauskas¹, Paulina Zelviene², Ieva Daniunaite², Philip Hyland³, Monika Kvedaraite², Mark Shevlin⁴, Marylene Cloitre⁵

Affiliations

¹ Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Ciurlionio 29-203, Vilnius LT-01300, Lithuania. Electronic address: evaldas.kazlauskas@fsf.vu.lt.
² Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Ciurlionio 29-203, Vilnius LT-01300, Lithuania.
³ School of Psychology, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.
⁴ School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK.
⁵ National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA, USA.

PMID: 32090738
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.061

Abstract

Background: The recently released 11th edition of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) included new definitions of disorders specifically associated with stress. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was included in ICD-11 as a new trauma-related disorder which could develop following prolonged or reoccurring traumatic experiences. Research on ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD validity and epidemiology has, so far, mostly been conducted in adult population. This is the first study to explore the construct validity of the Child and Adolescent version of International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ-CA) as a measure of ICD-11 CPTSD symptoms.

Methods: The study was based on a sample of 932 adolescents from the general population aged 12-16 (M = 14.25, SD = 1.27) years exposed to various traumatic experiences. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and latent class analysis (LCA) to test validity of the ITQ-CA scores from adolescents.

Results: The best fitting measurement model included six correlated factors representing the three PTSD and three DSO symptom clusters. LCA analysis revealed four classes whose symptom profiles were reflective of 'CPTSD', 'PTSD', 'DSO only', and 'Baseline'.

Conclusions: Findings of the study provide support for the construct validity of the ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD among adolescents.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Humans
International Classification of Diseases*
Latent Class Analysis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires