The dimensionality of proposed DSM-5 PTSD symptoms in trauma-exposed young children

Resumen

Objective. A subtype of the posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis for children 6 years and younger (PTSD-6Y) was introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, the latent structure of PTSD symptoms in this age group has not been previously investigated. The present study therefore utilized confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) techniques to evaluate the proposed DSM-5 PTSD-6Y factor structure and criterion and convergent validity against competing models. Method. Data for N=284 (3-6 years) trauma-exposed young children recruited following a variety of traumas in New Orleans were examined. We compared the DSM-5 PTSD-6Y model to DSM-IV, and alternate 1- 2- and 4-factor models. Convergent validity was established aganst the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Criterion related validity was established by comparing each model to a categorical rating of impairment. Results. In terms of symptom structure, the Dysphoria and PTSD-6Y models offered the better accounts, although neither satisfied minimum requirements for a good fitting model. These two models also only showed small levels of convergence with CBCL dimensions. With respect to patterns of criterion validity, the 1-factor model offered the most compelling balance of sensitivity and specificity, with the 2-factor model and the Dysphoria model following closely behind. Conclusions. There is little support for the symptom cluster instantiated in DSM-5 PTSD-6Y. Although a 4-factor Dysphoria model offers a better overall account of clustering patterns, alongside acceptable sensitivity and specificity for detecting clinical impairment, it also falls short of being an adequate model in this younger age group.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

McKinnon, A., Scheeringa, M., Meiser-Stedman, R., Watson, P., De Young, A., & Dalgleish, T. (2018). The dimensionality of proposed DSM-5 PTSD symptoms in trauma-exposed young children. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/e8prh