ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Veterans can present at nongovernment (Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs) mental health agencies with complex symptom constellations that frequently include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and generalized anxiety. To date, no veteran study has validated these measures on a treatment-seeking sample of veterans outside the DoD and VA. METHODS: We used a treatment-seeking sample of veterans ( N = 493) to validate measures that assess these constructs (PTSD Checklist 5, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). RESULTS: The seven-factor posttraumatic stress disorder hybrid configuration was the best fit. The best fitting model of the depression measure was a two-factor structure, cognitive-affective, and somatic depression. The measure of generalized anxiety was a unidimensional model. LIMITATIONS: Follow-up studies should validate these measures on nontreatment-seeking discharged veterans. CONCLUSIONS: We interpret these findings within the veteran scholarship and explore clinical implications for providers.
Subject(s)
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Veterans , Humans , Patient Health Questionnaire , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Anxiety Disorders , AnxietyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: First responders (FRs) commonly present for treatment with complex symptom constellations that frequently include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and generalized anxiety. To date, no FR study has validated these measures on a treatment-seeking sample. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to validate measures that assess these constructs (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) on a treatment-seeking sample of FRs ( N = 390). RESULTS: The seven-factor posttraumatic stress disorder hybrid configuration was the best fit. The best fitting factor model of the depression measure was a two-factor structure, cognitive-affective and somatic depression. Lastly, generalized anxiety was a unidimensional construct. LIMITATIONS: Follow-up studies should validate these measures on each FR subtype. CONCLUSION: We position these findings within the FR literature, review clinical implications for providers, and offer recommendations for future research.
