title: Portuguese version of the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M)-I: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and reliability.
abstract: The PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) is a brief self-report instrument widely used to assess Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in war Veterans, according to DSM-IV. This study sought out to explore the factor structure and reliability of the Portuguese version of the PCL-M. A sample of 660 Portuguese Colonial War Veterans completed the PCL-M. Several Confirmatory Factor Analyses were conducted to test different structures for PCL-M PTSD symptoms. Although the respecified first-order four-factor model based on King et al.'s model showed the best fit to the data, the respecified first and second-order models based on the DSM-IV symptom clusters also presented an acceptable fit. In addition, the PCL-M showed adequate reliability. The Portuguese version of the PCL-M is thus a valid and reliable measure to assess the severity of PTSD symptoms as described in DSM-IV. Its use with Portuguese Colonial War Veterans may ease screening of possible PTSD cases, promote more suitable treatment planning, and enable monitoring of therapeutic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal; Cognitive-Behavioral Research Centre (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: teresacarvalho.psi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal; Cognitive-Behavioral Research Centre (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Cognitive-Behavioral Research Centre (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto-Gouveia
authors.affiliation: Cognitive-Behavioral Research Centre (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057189:Checklist / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Assessment of PTSD symptoms; Latent structure of PCL-M; Portuguese Colonial War Veterans; Portuguese validation; Psychometric properties; Trauma; War exposure