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A validation study of the Dutch posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) after the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident

Tzaneti, E.E. (2022) A validation study of the Dutch posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) after the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.

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Abstract:Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event or situation. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a Dutch self-report measure, the 20-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), in bereaved people who experienced a loss of a loved one as a result of a road traffic accident. Methods: We examined the: i) internal consistency, ii) convergent validity, iii) known-groups validity, and iv) optimal clinical cut-off scores for detecting probable PTSD cases in a sample of 273 Dutch adults who lost a loved one in a road traffic accident. In particular, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson’s correlation analysis, t-tests and receiver operating curve analyses were performed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Dutch PCL-5. Results: The PCL-5 items of the total as well as the subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (α’s > .80). Positive, strong, and significant associations between posttraumatic stress scores and symptom levels of prolonged grief (r = .81) and depression (r = .63) supported convergent validity. Associations between sociodemographic/loss-related variables including gender, educational level, time since loss as well as kinship and posttraumatic stress symptoms supported known-groups validity. The optimal cut-off score for the PCL-5 total scale was ≥ 27 (sensitivity = .97, specificity = .84) for probable caseness of DSM-5 PTSD. Conclusion: Overall, preliminary validation of the Dutch PCL-5 was proven to be a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring PTSD symptom severity in a sample of bereaved people who experienced the loss due to a road traffic accident. Future research should examine the factor structure for the Dutch PCL-5 and conduct other validation studies in diverse bereaved samples. Implications for use of the PCL-5 might benefit researchers and clinicians in a variety of assessment contexts and are discussed.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/92163
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