The structure of post-traumatic stress symptoms in young survivors of war.
Research on the dimensionality of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has generally failed to provide support for the three clusters of PTSD suggested in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). However, much research has been restricted to samples in North America and Western European countries. The aim of the current study was to test four alternative factor models among a relatively understudied population-young civilian survivors of war who had experienced war-related events as adolescents-in order to establish whether the factor structure of PTSD is consistent among various traumatized populations and age groups. Using the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the results indicated that the four-factor model including intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, and numbing factors provided a better fit than the three-factor model suggested by the DSM-IV. The current study offers additional support from another population for a four-factor model of PTSD that implies a separation of avoidance and numbing items. Case conceptualization and treatment implications are discussed.
Morina
Nexhmedin
N
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WB Amsterdam, the Netherlands. morina@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
Böhme
Hendryk F
HF
Morina
Lendite
L
Asmundson
Gordon J G
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult