ABSTRACT
Background: The changes DSM-5 brought to the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulted in revising the most widely used instrument in assessing PTSD, namely the Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the PCL-5, tested its diagnostic utility against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), and investigated the latent structure of PTSD symptoms through correlated symptom models and bifactor modelling.Method: A total sample of 727 participants was used to test the psychometric properties and underlying structure of the PCL-5 and 101 individuals underwent clinical interviews using SCID-5. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were performed to test the diagnostic utility of the PCL-5 and identify optimal cut-off scores based on Youden's J index. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) and bifactor modelling were performed to investigate the latent structure of PTSD symptoms.Results: Estimates revealed that the PCL-5 is a valuable tool with acceptable diagnostic accuracy compared to SCID-5 diagnoses, indicating a cut-off score of >47. The CFAs provide empirical support for Anhedonia, Hybrid, and bifactor models. The findings are limited by using retrospective, self-report data and the high percentage of female participants.Conclusions: The PCL-5 is a psychometrically sound instrument that can be useful in making provisional diagnoses within community samples and improving trauma-informed practices.
This study offers an in-depth analysis of the Romanian version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), exploring its psychometric properties, diagnostic utility, and latent structure.An optimal cut-off score was identified for PTSD diagnosis using the SCID-5, providing essential insights into the diagnostic process and enhancing its utility in clinical assessments.Using bifactor modelling and other statistical methods, various PTSD models were compared to offer valuable guidance for future research, assessment, and interventions in this field.
Subject(s)
Psychometrics , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Humans , Psychometrics/standards , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Female , Male , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , Adult , Reproducibility of Results , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Checklist , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires/standardsABSTRACT
In the present study, we highlight the types of anxiety and the coping strategies employed by the students at the Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing Faculties, at the same time comparing them with the general population. This research involved 333 first year students, 18-20 years of age. We used the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales-Trait (EMAS-T) and Social Anxiety Scale-Trait (SAS-T) and two coping measuring instruments, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) and Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS). We obtained an overview on the hierarchy of the types of anxiogenic situations for the study participants, by gender and specialization. We analyzed and discussed the correlations between anxiety and coping and we discussed the results of the factor analysis. We noticed the students' predilection for maladaptive coping mechanisms and how anxiety relates to their professional choice.
