Background: Both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) have been included in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Although the validity of CPTSD has been controversial, a growing number of studies support the distinction between PTSD and CPTSD. However, the majority of this research has originated in high-income countries (HICs), whereas the prevalence of trauma experience associated with PTSD/CPTSD diagnosis is significantly higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: This study assessed whether a sample from an LMIC setting produced distinct classes that reflect ICD-11 criteria for PTSD and CPTSD. Furthermore, this study investigated whether childhood trauma distinguished between PTSD and CPTSD. Method: International Trauma Questionnaire responses from a sample of South African university undergraduates were used as indicator variables in a latent class analysis (LCA). Chi-squared tests of independence and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to assess between-class differences. Results: The LCA identified four distinct classes: a PTSD class with elevated symptoms of PTSD, but low endorsement of disturbances in self-organization (DSO; symptoms that are specific to CPTSD); a CPTSD class with elevated symptoms of PTSD and DSO; a DSO class with low symptoms of PTSD, but elevated symptoms of DSO; and a Low class with low endorsements on all symptoms. Regarding childhood trauma, participants in the CPTSD class had more severe childhood abuse and neglect, specifically emotional abuse and neglect, than participants in the PTSD class. Conclusions: Findings were consistent with the distinction between PTSD and CPTSD symptom profiles in the ICD-11. Our findings support a similar qualitative distinction between PTSD and CPTSD in our LMIC context, as previously reported in HICs. This distinction is especially relevant in LMICs because of the significant number of individuals vulnerable to these disorders.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.