The impact of trauma core dimensions on anxiety and depression: a latent regression model through the Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ)

Summary & key facts

This study tested a short questionnaire called the Post‑Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ) in 761 adults who had experienced trauma. The PTSQ measures three core trauma reactions — intrusion (unwanted memories), avoidance (efforts to avoid reminders), and hyperarousal (high alertness) — with 12 items total. The authors report that the PTSQ showed excellent measurement properties and they identified clinical cut-off scores. Using a statistical model, they found that the three trauma components were differently associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Key facts:

• The study sample included 761 adults who had experienced a traumatic event.
• The Post‑Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ) has 12 items: three subscales (intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal) with four items each.
• The authors report that the PTSQ showed exemplary fit indices and robust psychometric properties in this adult sample.
• The researchers identified clinical cut-off scores for the PTSQ for use in clinical and research settings.
• Intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal were each linked to anxiety and depression symptoms; these links were tested using a multiple multivariate latent regression model.
• Previous validation of the PTSQ had been done only in young adults (ages 18–30); this study evaluated the instrument in a larger adult sample.

Topics

Child Abuse and Trauma Migration, Health and Trauma Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Computer science Core (optical fiber) Depression (economics) Economics Machine learning Macroeconomics Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapist Regression Regression analysis Telecommunications

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Anxiety or worry Poor sleep Sadness or low mood