title: Temporal stability of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder criteria in a problem-drinking sample.
abstract: The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) reformulated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based partially on research showing there were 4 main factors that underlie the symptoms of the disorder. The primary aim of this study was to examine the temporal stability of the DSM-5 factors as measured by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2010). Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the structure of DSM-5 PTSD, and temporal stability over 3 time points was examined to determine if the measure reflects a consistent construct over time. Our sample was 507 combat-exposed veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who enrolled in an online intervention for problem drinking and combat-related stress (Brief et al., 2013). We administered the PCL-5 at baseline, 8-week postintervention, and 3-month follow-up assessments. The DSM-5 model provided an adequate fit to the data at baseline. Tests of equality of form and equality of factor loadings demonstrated stability of the factor structure over time, indicating temporal stability. This study confirmed the results of previous research supporting the DSM-5 model of PTSD symptoms (Elhai et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2013). This is the 1st study to demonstrate the temporal stability of the PCL-5, indicating its use in longitudinal studies measures the same construct over time.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Terence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lachowicz
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brief
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Justin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Enggasser
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermos
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helmuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenbloom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013995:Time; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult